NWS cites strong risk for storms with gusty winds, lightning from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday

Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·4 min read
Unrelenting sun has kept temperatures mostly above 90 degrees in Daytona Beach since the start of summer.
Unrelenting sun has kept temperatures mostly above 90 degrees in Daytona Beach since the start of summer.

Extreme weather − not just the heat but thunderstorms packing gusty winds − could develop in Volusia County and throughout East Central Florida Wednesday afternoon.

There is a "strong storm risk" for coastal-central Florida including Volusia County from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Showers are likely and there is an 80% chance of thunderstorms.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Interstate 4 corridor moving eastward before pushing offshore, with the strongest storms "capable of producing frequent, cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, gusty winds of up to 50 to 60 mph and torrential downpours," the weather service stated.

Daytona Beach was headed for a high of 92 degrees on Wednesday. However, the heat index was expected to make going outdoors feel like 106.

Staying hot

The high temperature in Daytona Beach has not gone below 86 since at least the start of summer on June 21. Of the 57 days thus far this summer, just eight have not had a high temperature reach 90, and the last such day was July 28, records from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration show.

Where to seek relief in Volusia County?

With all of the heat sending residents seeking relief indoors, Volusia County announced a new cooling station Wednesday.

The Salvation Army, 1555 LPGA Blvd., Daytona Beach, will be available starting Monday, Aug. 21 through Aug. 31, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The other cooling sites identified by Volusia County are:

  • Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway, Daytona Beach. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • DeBary Public Library, 200 N. Charles R. Beall Blvd., DeBary. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • DeLand Regional Library, 130 E. Howry Ave., DeLand. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • Edgewater Public Library, 103 W. Indian River Blvd., Edgewater. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • Hope Place Public Library, 1310 Wright St., Daytona Beach. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • John H. Dickerson Heritage Library, 4111 S. Keech St., Daytona Beach. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

  • Lake Helen Public Library, 221 N. Euclid Ave., Lake Helen. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • Oak Hill Public Library, 125 E. Halifax Ave., Oak Hill. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • Orange City Public Library, 148 Albertus Way, Orange City. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • Pierson Public Library, 115 N. Volusia Ave., Pierson. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  • Port Orange Regional Library, 1005 City Center Circle, Port Orange. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

  • The Bridge shelter, 421 S. Palmetto Ave., DeLand. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. daily through Aug. 23.

  • Ponce Inlet Town Hall, 4300 S. Atlantic Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Aug. 25.

  • Ponce Inlet Community Center, 4670 S. Peninsula Drive. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week through Aug. 25.

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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Lightning, gusty winds, rain predicted for coastal Central Florida