A dry air mass will affect east central Florida on Thursday...

Flz041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-144-147-081100- /o.new.kmlb.fw.a.0001.090108t1700z-090108t2300z/ inland Volusia-Northern Lake-Orange-Seminole-Southern Brevard- Osceola-Indian River-Okeechobee-st. Lucie-martin-coastal Volusia- Southern Lake-northern Brevard- 408 am est Wed Jan 7 2009.

..Fire weather watch in effect Thursday afternoon...

The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a fire weather watch...which is in effect Thursday afternoon. This watch is in effect for all east central Florida counties due to expected long duration of low relative humidity below 35 percent.

A dry air mass will be left in the wake of a departing cold front that will move through the central bahamas on Thursday. Min rhs below 35 percent are expected for up to 5 hours with westerly winds to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon across east central Florida.

A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.

De land...Leesburg...orlando..Sanford...Melbourne...palm bay...kissimmee...st cloud..Vero beach...Okeechobee...Fort Pierce...hobe sound..Daytona beach...Clermont...titusville 426 am est Wed Jan 7 2009.

..Lake wind advisory in effect from 9 am this morning to 6 pm est this afternoon...

The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a lake wind advisory...which is in effect from 9 am this morning to 6 pm est this afternoon.

Southwest winds will rapidly increase up to 15 to 20 mph ahead of an approaching cold front this morning with gusts up to 25 mph at times. As cold front passes winds will become westerly with gusts increasing as high as 25 to 30 mph this afternoon. Boats should exercise caution on area lakes today.

Strong and gusty winds will create rough and hazardous boating conditions on area lakes and the intracoastal waters. This may result in high waves which may tip or swamp small craft.

A line of fast-moving showers will reach northwest sections of lake and Volusia counties around 10 am and continue east across areas near and northwest of interstate 4 through midday. Expect brief but very heavy downpours and strong wind gusts to 30 to 40 mph as the activity passes. A few stronger cells could produce wind gusts up to around 50 mph.