After Idalia, what's the weather forecast for Labor Day weekend in Volusia, Flagler?

After Volusia and Flagler counties dodged a bullet with relatively minor impact from Hurricane Idalia, the next big question is what kind of weather is on tap for the long Labor Day weekend holiday.

For beachgoers, the bad news is that the remnants of Idalia, one of six systems in the Atlantic Ocean that the National Hurricane Center was tracking on Friday, will still contribute to dangerous rip currents along Florida’s east coast. Of course, that includes Volusia and Flagler.

The good news is that the chance of rain diminishes as the weekend unfolds.

What’s the risk of rip currents over Labor Day weekend in Volusia, Flagler?

The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a hazardous weather advisory for coastal areas that include Volusia and Flagler counties for numerous strong, life-threatening rip currents expected with breaking waves building to around 4 feet.

In case you missed it: Rip currents continue to make victims in Volusia County. What makes them so dangerous?

The NWS advises that rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Choppy surf can knock you off your feet and make you even more susceptible to being caught in the seaward pull of a rip current.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore. They occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and signs.

Residents and visitors are strongly urged to stay out of the ocean due to the dangerous rip current and surf conditions into the Labor Day holiday weekend, according to the NWS advisory.

Will there be rain to start Labor Day weekend in Volusia, Flagler?

The advisory also warns about numerous to widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms that are expected from late morning throughout the afternoon on Friday across east Central Florida.

Activity is forecast to develop by late morning over the coastal counties and spread inland through the afternoon. The greatest chance for stronger storms will be over the interior counties, with a few storms possibly lingering past sunset over Lake County.

The Friday storms will move south at 5-10 mph and be capable of producing wind gusts up to around 40 mph, cloud-to-ground lightning strikes and very heavy downpours, the NWS states. Move indoors at the first sign of threatening skies, or if you hear thunder.

The combination of very moist air and slower storm motion on Friday will lead to the potential for a few storms to dump from 2-4 inches of rain in some locations, especially over the interior.

This may result in localized flooding of roads and other urban and poor drained, low-lying areas. The NWS advises to never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway, as the water depth may be too great to allow your vehicle to make it across safely.

What’s the boating outlook for Labor Day weekend in Volusia, Flagler?

For boaters, a few storms could produce wind gusts up to 35 knots on Friday, especially on lakes that are well inland, according to the NWS.

Northeast winds up to 15 knots coupled with a building ocean swell from Idalia will also produce increasingly poor to hazardous boating conditions across the Atlantic through Friday night, as combined seas reach 7 feet well offshore and in the Gulf Stream from late afternoon through the evening.

A small craft advisory will go into effect later Friday for the waters beyond 20 nautical miles offshore, and for the water within 20 nautical miles south of Sebastian Inlet.

How hot will it be over Labor Day weekend in Volusia, Flagler?

Afternoon heat indexes are forecast to reach 102 to 106 degrees across most of east Central Florida except for coastal Volusia and northern Brevard Counties from late morning Friday into early afternoon.

Temperatures will become cooler as the weekend unfolds.

What’s the Labor Day weekend forecast in Volusia, Flagler?

Looking ahead, rough surf, hazardous seas and a high risk of life-threatening rip currents will continue through the Labor Day holiday weekend.

At the same time, relatively drier air will spread into the area during the weekend and into early next week, resulting in much lower storm coverage.

Here’s the extended forecast for Daytona Beach:

• On Friday, there’s a 60% chance of rain under partly sunny skies, with an expected high temperature of 87 and a nighttime low around 77.

• On Saturday, there’s a slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the rest of the day. Mostly sunny skies are expected with a high near 86 and a nighttime low of 76. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

• On Sunday, there’s a 20% chance of showers after 2 p.m. under mostly sunny skies, with a high near 86. Nighttime low is expected to be around 75.

• For Labor Day, the Monday forecast calls for a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny skies are expected, with a high near 86 and a nighttime low around 74.

Here’s the extended forecast for Flagler Beach:

• On Friday, there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m., including storms that could produce heavy rainfall. Skies are expected to be mostly cloudy, with a high near 87 and a nighttime low around 77. Chance of rain is 60%.

• On Saturday, there’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, that continues after 2 p.m. under mostly sunny skies with a high near 86 and a nighttime low around 75.

• On Sunday, there’s a slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. There’s a 30% chance of rain under mostly sunny skies, with a high near 86 and a nighttime low around 75.

• For Labor Day, the forecast calls for a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms under sunny skies with a high near 87 and a nighttime low around 74.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Check out Labor Day weekend forecast for Volusia and Flagler counties