Weather Worries

[PinnieMouse]

Hi All! Next week will be my second time going to WDW but my fellow travelers are a little concerned about the weather report for next week.

Now I don't really know much about Florida weather, so is a report of either Isolated T-Storms, Scattered T-Storms, or T-Storms for every day next week pretty much par for the course or should I be concerned that we're going to be rained out every day? Or is it more like "a daily appearance of a thunderstorm?"

Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Par for the course for summer in Florida.

Isolated means one can pop up at some point during the day and even in just one spot. Scattered would be a little bit more in multiple places.

As long as you aren't seeing 100% for the day, it's fine. But it isn't Florida summer without some chance of something.

 

[kmb584]

Hi All! Next week will be my second time going to WDW but my fellow travelers are a little concerned about the weather report for next week.

Now I don't really know much about Florida weather, so is a report of either Isolated T-Storms, Scattered T-Storms, or T-Storms for every day next week pretty much par for the course or should I be concerned that we're going to be rained out every day? Or is it more like "a daily appearance of a thunderstorm?"

Thanks!

That forecast is par for the course this time of year. I wouldn't worry about being rained out every day, but just know that the chance is there for it to happen (not for your entire trip, though). Showers and thunderstorms are very common in the afternoon.

 

[bumbershoot]

It is absolutely par for the course. It is totally normal for there to be a chance of a thunderstorm passing through, and totally normal for it to last, maybe, an hour. Also totally normal for it to be extremely localized, where people can be getting poured on at Animal Kingdom, with sunny skies at Magic Kingdom.

It's something to prepare for (have a poncho and a chance of socks, perhaps), but not something to worry about.


Do know that if there is actual lightning within a certain radius (either 3 or 5 miles away) they will close certain things. Including pools. If it's just raining and you're swimming, keep on swimming! It's just rain and you're already wet. (might want to put electronics and papers into a ziptop baggie in your pool bag, though) If they make you get out, though, it's because of lightning and it's for your safety.

 

[PinnieMouse]

Ah! You guys are great! I'll be poncho-ready! Thanks so much!!!!

 

[PJ]

And if an attraction for which you have a FP is closed for weather, your magic band will automatically be updated to a "generic" FP good for the rest of the day for the attraction the original FP was for, plus several other attractions as alternatives.

You will get an MDE notification on your phone and an email, although the timing of the notifications was somewhat inconsistent.

We only had one night at MK where the rain and closures lasted longer than we could wait. (We've been in the area for 6 weeks with AP's doing parks a couple of days a week).

Oh - and be prepared for the heat!

 

[marchingstar]

I'll be in the world soon too, and I've started paying closer attention to the daily forecasts too. Not to derail this thread too much, but is there a particular weather site that folks recommend? I usually rely on environment canada in my daily life, but I don't think it'll get me very far during the trip...

Also, is there somewhere particular to look for potential storm warnings? Or would any weather site report them too?

 

[spewey]

I'll be in the world soon too, and I've started paying closer attention to the daily forecasts too. Not to derail this thread too much, but is there a particular weather site that folks recommend? I usually rely on environment canada in my daily life, but I don't think it'll get me very far during the trip...

Also, is there somewhere particular to look for potential storm warnings? Or would any weather site report them too?

I'm a bit of a weather junkie, and use weather.com when in the states. The weather channel in the U.S. has gone reality-show/over the top crazy, but that site's pretty good - you can break the forecast down to pretty specific areas.

Don't expect it to be as accurate as Environment Canada, which is pretty much the gold standard as far as I am concerned.

Having said that - checking more than two or three days out is almost pointless, as any forecast beyond that (unless there is a major weather event, like a hurricane/massive storm front coming through) is almost guesswork. And for late August in Orlando it rarely changes anyway - high of 94 (F), very humid with a good chance of afternoon thunderstorms. EVERY DAY.

 

[CouchTater]

One good thing about the pop up showers is that it often thins the herd and people head indoors or head for the exit. Unless it's lightning, slip on a poncho and keep right on going. Many times the rides will become walk ons. Some of our best trips have been in the rain.

 

[marchingstar]

And for late August in Orlando it rarely changes anyway - high of 94 (F), very humid with a good chance of afternoon thunderstorms. EVERY DAY.

Thanks, spewey! And you're right--this is the forecast for most every day of our trip.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I say this all the time...we go ever September and here is rain forecast 90% of our trip every day. Last year we had rain forcast all 11 days. It rained 2 days for a half hour and 1 day about half the day. It was 90% almost every day. So in other words, in the summer they seem to forcast rain way more than it actually does. We lived there and I know there is a chance of an afternoon shower every day, but it won't be as bad as the forcast looks usually

 

[mickey2000]

 

[SimonSez]

We'll be there next week too, and it wouldn't be a Disney trip without donning a poncho at least a couple times Hopefully it will be more like

 

[Wendybird55]

I think it's the luck of the draw..the past 7 years we've gone late August or early September. And yes, it's been hot, but now we haven't had trouble with excessive rain. A couple of quick bursts here or there lasting less than 1/2 hr.

 

[Aurora0427]

I'll be in the world soon too, and I've started paying closer attention to the daily forecasts too. Not to derail this thread too much, but is there a particular weather site that folks recommend? I usually rely on environment canada in my daily life, but I don't think it'll get me very far during the trip...

Also, is there somewhere particular to look for potential storm warnings? Or would any weather site report them too?

Accuweather is, IMO, more accurate than weather.com, and the forecasts are more specific. I use both, but prefer accuweather.

 

[dtats]

We seem to always go in August. Last August, it rained almost everyday in the mid-late afternoon, but just for 15-30 minutes or so. We just went about our planned activities, donning ponchos when we had to, and had a blast!

After the rain clouds cleared, the sun came back out, and everything was washed down clean from the rain! It was great!

I look forward to hitting the parks again in two weeks! Before that, however, we've got three days aboard the Dream... Now THAT'S where I don't want to see rain!

 

[disnut8]

As others have stated, that forecast is par for the course during this time. Actually, it sounds pretty good.

To the OP - one thing to remember, it could be raining at one park and not at another. If you have hopper passes, you could consider moving to another park for a time and then returning to the original park. A walk around World Showcase at Epcot while in a poncho and the rain is coming down, it not a bad thing. Especially with a beer in your hand.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we go often in August, as well, and are pretty used to what we like to call the "afternoon monsoon"!

 

[kbmartin]

I've been watching the weather closely as we are about a week out, too. I was wondering... on weather.com, it says 80% chance of rain for some days... does that mean it has a higher chance of raining longer than just the afternoon shower?

I know it does NO good to look this far in advance, but I still do it!

 

[siskaren]

I've been watching the weather closely as we are about a week out, too. I was wondering... on weather.com, it says 80% chance of rain for some days... does that mean it has a higher chance of raining longer than just the afternoon shower?

I know it does NO good to look this far in advance, but I still do it!

No, it just means that there's an 80% that there'll be rain that day.