All articles tagged with #central florida
Central Florida residents stayed up to witness a near-total partial lunar eclipse, with about 96% of the Moon in Earth's shadow; FOX 35 published a gallery of viewer-submitted eclipse photos, and NASA notes several more eclipses through 2030, including the next partial eclipse on Jan. 12, 2028 visible across the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
Hundreds of thousands of Central Florida students return to class as districts across Seminole, Brevard, Osceola, and Volusia begin the new school year. Seminole County welcomes more than 55,000 students and debuts community-school partnerships at Midway Elementary while Crooms Academy marks its 100th anniversary. In Brevard, 25 bus drivers perform pre-inspection checks, and families in Volusia and Osceola celebrate the first day of a 180-day school year and positive starts to the term.
Florida reported 36 Hansen’s disease (leprosy) cases in 2025—the most in the state’s modern records—mostly acquired in Florida, with 17 additional preliminary cases in 2026 by mid-July; Central Florida, particularly Brevard County, has historically higher counts. Leprosy is rare and not easily spread, and is curable with antibiotics, though exposure timing can be years apart; the numbers are preliminary and can change as investigations continue.
Central Florida reports a small uptick in leprosy cases in 2026, with 17 cases statewide and one case in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Seminole, and Sumter counties and two in Volusia; transmission is mainly via prolonged respiratory exposure, casual contact is unlikely, and armadillos can be a reservoir; the disease is curable with modern medications.
Rapper Kodak Black was arrested in Central Florida on a drug-trafficking charge, according to AP News; the article was updated May 7, 2026.
All of Central Florida is under a tornado watch until 6 p.m. as a cold front triggers a line of storms bringing heavy rain, frequent lightning, and gusts up to 50 mph. The main risk is damaging winds, with a small chance of tornadoes or hail; a wind advisory is in effect 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and a Red Flag Warning signals high fire danger. Cooler air arrives Sunday as conditions dry out and trend cooler.
Central Florida remains under a freeze warning into Monday as temperatures drop to the upper 20s in Orlando and below freezing in Ocala, The Villages, and Palm Coast, with wind chills in the teens to the mid-20s and breezes up to 20 mph; after the cold spell, temperatures rebound to around 40 by early Wednesday, and another front brings a rain chance Thursday; residents are urged to protect exposed pipes, bring outdoor pets indoors, cover plants, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
With a cold snap threatening Central Florida, homeowners are advised to shield exterior pipes from wind by covering them with foam insulation or towels, disconnect hoses, and protect brass backflow preventers. Drip a faucet inside (the one farthest from the main) to prevent freezing, and ensure irrigation is turned off. If a pipe bursts, shut off the main valve immediately and avoid DIY repairs; exterior pipes are most at risk, while pipes in attics or crawl spaces are generally safer.
A powerful Arctic front has triggered a Central Florida freeze warning and extreme-cold advisory, with wind chills dipping into the teens and possibly single digits through Sunday and gusts over 40 mph; residents should protect pipes, pets, and plants, turn off sprinklers, and watch for icy patches while outdoors.
Central Florida is under wind advisories, a freeze warning, and an extreme cold warning through Monday morning as winds up to 45 mph drive wind chills into the single digits; some areas could endure 12–16 hours of subfreezing temperatures, with more than 12 hours of freezing in parts of the Orlando area. Temperatures rebound by Monday afternoon, but another freeze is possible early Tuesday for some locations; residents should protect pipes, check on neighbors, and bring outdoor pets inside.
Florida health officials confirmed 14 cases of Legionnaire’s disease in Central Florida linked to gym exposure, with investigations ongoing into the source, including water systems at a fitness center that recently underwent extensive renovations.
A slow-moving storm in Central Florida dumped nearly 20 inches of rain in 24 hours, causing severe flash floods, road closures, and water line breaks, with rainfall levels comparable to a hurricane, highlighting the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Heavy rain in Central Florida, particularly in Lake County and Eustis, caused severe flooding, road washouts, and evacuations, with some areas experiencing up to 17 inches of rain in five hours, leading to significant damage and ongoing recovery efforts.
The Florida Highway Patrol is monitoring a memorial crosswalk at Pulse after it was repainted twice, raising concerns about its safety and significance in Central Florida.
Tropical Storm Sara is expected to weaken significantly before reaching Central Florida due to its interaction with land and an approaching cold front. Currently near Honduras, Sara is causing heavy rain and potential flooding but is forecast to lose its tropical storm status as it moves through Belize and Mexico into the Gulf of Mexico. By the time it reaches Florida, it is likely to be a remnant low, increasing rain chances midweek but posing little threat of a significant storm.