ORLANDO, Fla. - Strong storms started rolling into Central Florida on Saturday afternoon, prompting weather alerts for most counties.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Sumter, Polk, and Lake counties until 8 p.m.

Saturday is a FOX 35 Weather Impact Day. FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner says the primary threat today from thunderstorms is damaging wind gusts.

Central Florida is expected to see highs in upper 90s, but the ‘feels like’ temperatures will be between 107 - 112 degrees in some areas. Saturday is expected to tie Tuesday for the hottest day of the week with 98 as the high temperature in Orlando. Leesburg is expected to hit a high of 100-degrees even without the heat index.

If you're headed to a theme park, it will be a hot and humid day for the park goers. Temperatures will start off warm, reaching 90 by 12 p.m.

Head to the beaches early on Saturday. Mostly sunny skies along the Atlantic coastline until noon, then clouds will creep in. Rain chances will be high for the beaches with showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The surf will be around 2 ft and there will be a moderate risk for rip currents.

HEAT ADVISORY IN FLORIDA

A Heat Advisory is in effect for most of Central Florida from 2 - 8 p.m. Counties include Volusia, Lake, Sumter, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola.

Make sure you take breaks inside the A/C, wear lightweight clothing and check on your elderly neighbors.

DOWNLOAD: FOX 35 NEWS APP | FOX 35 STORM TEAM WEATHER APP

WILL IT RAIN THIS WEEKEND IN CENTRAL FLORIDA?

Storm chances are on the rise this weekend beginning around 5 p.m. on Saturday and into the evening. The rain should clear out around 10 - 11 p.m.

More rain and heat is expected on Sunday for Father's Day.

Because of the excessive heat, Seminole County officials have activated their "Extreme Weather Plan." The county's cooling centers will be at all parks and libraries throughout the county.

RELATED: Florida heat wave: These are the hours you should avoid being outdoors

HOW TO STAY COOL IN HOT WEATHER

Emergency managers say if you do plan on being outside, be sure to stay hydrated, stay in the shade as much as possible, and take breaks when you need. They've also put an emergency relief shelter on standby in case any local assisted living facilities or nursing homes lose power or air conditioning.

They say all cooling centers will have supplies and personnel who can help people looking to beat the heat. The county also has mobile conditioner units that they can bring to nursing homes that lose air conditioning and use on-site.

HOTTEST HOURS OF THE DAY

The hottest hours are between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. so experts advise staying inside if you can and avoid taking your pets for long walks at that time, especially on asphalt or concrete.

Head to the beaches early on Saturday. Mostly sunny skies along the Atlantic coastline until noon, then clouds will creep in. Rain chances will be high for the beaches with showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The surf will be around 2 ft and there will be a moderate risk for rip currents.

ORLANDO, Fla., May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated, a national vacation ownership company, announced today the launch of Guest of Honor, a program that provides complimentary resort stays to active-duty military, veterans and their families. In conjunction with the launch of Guest of Honor, Holiday Inn Club Vacations has introduced its partnership with Vacations for Vets, a program run by In Honor of Our Troops (IHOOT), a nonprofit organization that works with hospitality brands to provide free lodging to active-duty military and veterans.

Beginning Memorial Day weekend, nine different military members and their families will enjoy a week-long stay at several Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties located across the U.S., including Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Florida; Desert Club Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada; Villages Resort at Lake Palestine in Flint, Texas; and Oak n' Spruce Resort in the Berkshires in South Lee, Massachusetts. To kick off this program, Holiday Inn Club Vacations donated more than 10 million Club points. Moving forward, the Company will continue to provide complimentary stays to military members by collecting donated points from Holiday Inn Club members.

"At Holiday Inn Club Vacations, we believe that travel not only brings families closer together, but truly strengthens their bonds. Our brave military members, along with the dedicated families who take on the important role of loving and supporting a service member, deserve this more than anyone," said John Staten, President and Chief Operating Officer at Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated. "Our Club members fully understand the immeasurable benefits of traveling together, so we are confident they will embrace this great new program with open arms."

"For the selfless men and women who serve our country, a vacation is far more than a chance to relax with friends and family. It's an opportunity to heal as they transition back to civilian life, along with time to reconnect with loved ones," said Philip Strambler, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IHOOT. "We are grateful for our partnership with Holiday Inn Club Vacations, as it allows our team to bring these life-changing experiences to even more members of our military."

To apply for a stay through Vacations for Vets, active-duty military members and veterans should visit ihoot.org. For more information on Holiday Inn Club Vacations and its network of resorts, visit holidayinnclub.com.

About Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated Encompassing 28 resorts, 7,900 villas in 14 U.S. states and more than 365,000 timeshare owners, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated is a resort, real estate and travel company with a mission to be the most loved brand in family travel by delivering easy-to-plan, memorable vacation experiences that strengthen families.

Based in Orlando, Fla., the Company has been a leader in the vacation ownership industry since 1982, when it was established by Holiday Inn^® founder Kemmons Wilson with the opening of the Company's flagship property, Holiday Inn Club Vacations^® at Orange Lake Resort next to Orlando's Walt Disney World^® Resort.

Today, the Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort portfolio spans across the United States. Throughout its history, the Company has maintained the core family values true to its majority ownership by the Wilson family, while aggressively pursuing growth, transforming its member engagement model and building an industry-leading team passionate about the guest experience.

About In Honor of Our Troops (IHOOT)In Honor of Our Troops (IHOOT) is a 501c3 nonprofit charity established over 20 years ago at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when the seriously wounded began arriving for treatment there. When Philip Strambler, a Vietnam-era USMC Officer, was serving as a Director of the medical center, he immediately understood first-hand how the difficult and painful the transition from military life back to civilian life was, especially for those who were permanently disabled. To address these needs, he developed IHOOT and its Vacations for Vets program.

Vacations for Vets provides rest, recuperation and healing to help reconnect and reestablish healthy family relationships. The program provides free accommodations for up to 8-days and 7-nights for active-duty military and veterans with proof of honorable service accompanied by their families and/or friends. The application process must be completed online at www.ihoot.org.

Media Contact:Ashley Fraboni, Holiday Inn Club Vacations407.315.8866afraboni@holidayinnclub.com

SOURCE Holiday Inn Club Vacations

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Health officials in Orange County have issued a warning Monday to stay out of the water in Lake Ivanhoe where harmful blue-green algae has been detected.

The algae was found in samples collected by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

As a result, residents and visitors are warned not to drink, swim, wade or boat in the water at Lake Ivanhoe.

You should thoroughly wash skin or clothing that comes in contact with the algae or discolored, smelly water.

Also, keep pets away from the area.

Blooms have the potential to produce toxins that cause irritate the eyes and throat.

What is blue-green algae?

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida's freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.

Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall. Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins.Is blue-green algae harmful?

Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals.

Find current information about Florida's water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal blooms and beach conditions by visiting ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.

What do I do if I see an algal bloom?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection collects and analyzes algal bloom samples. To report a bloom to DEP, call the toll-free hotline at 855-305-3903 or report online.

To report fish kills, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 1-800-636-0511.

Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center, call 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately.

Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water.

If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, please call the Florida Department of Health in Orange County Algal Bloom Information Line at 407-723-5216.

Tips to Prevent Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion

Health Related Illness (Spanish)

ORLANDO, FL – Summer is here and so are the high temperatures that can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County encourages residents and visitors to beat the heat and stay cool with the following tips to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat Stroke

Symptoms of heat stroke include extremely high body temperature above 103ºF or higher, hot, red, dry or damp skin, no sweating, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache, confusion/dizziness and/or slurred speech.

What to do for Heat Stroke:

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, extreme weakness or fatigue, dizziness/confusion, nausea, cold clammy/moist skin, pale or flushed complexion, muscle cramps, slightly elevated body temperature and fast/shallow breathing.

What to do for Heat Exhaustion:

Get medical help right away if:• You are throwing up• Your symptoms get worse• Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Forecasts are coming into clearer focus ahead of a disturbance that is set to organize in the Gulf of Mexico and head toward South Florida on Friday and Saturday. The National Hurricane Center says there is an 90 percent chance that the system will strengthen into a tropical depression and potentially become Alex, the first named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.

With a projected track directly over South Florida, forecast confidence is growing about probable effects. Widespread heavy rain and areas of flooding are expected, along with gusty winds, a minor ocean surge and a couple of tornadoes.

The National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm watches for much of Southern Florida, the Florida Keys and western Cuba on Thursday evening. It cautioned “considerable flash and urban flooding is possible,” due to the potential storm.

June tropical storms and hurricanes are not uncommon in Florida, according to Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist for the ABC television affiliate WPLG in Miami. In an online discussion, he said that of all the Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes that have affected land in June, “more than a third have been in the state of Florida.” He added that these storms typically aren’t very strong but are “often prolific rainmakers.”

This disturbance marks the first tropical threat of 2022 in the Lower 48 states and the start of what forecasters fear will be the seventh straight above-average Atlantic hurricane season.

Researchers at Colorado State University updated their seasonal outlook Thursday morning, increasing their projections for the season’s severity.

They now expect 20 named storms — compared to an average of 14.4 — among which should be 10 hurricanes and five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher. They say that the season should be about 35 percent more active than is typical and that there’s a 76 percent chance that a major hurricane strikes the U.S. mainland.

Tropical Atlantic and eastern subtropical and mid-latitude Atlantic are warmer than normal. When these regions are warmer than normal in June, Atlantic #hurricane seasons are typically more active. pic.twitter.com/DsnNEhCcUl

The National Hurricane Center has designated the area of disturbed weather east of the Yucatán Peninsula an “invest,” meaning it bears watching and could intensify into a depression or storm.

Thus far, the system — which includes the thunderstorm remnants of deadly Hurricane Agatha — has been struggling against strong high-altitude winds that have proved hostile to its development. But a recent flare-up of thunderstorm activity over the open waters east of the system’s center is an indicator that gradual development is probable, anyway.

Data from a scatterometer, or satellite-based sensor, suggests that winds within the system generally range between 25 and 30 mph, but the satellite was not in a position to ascertain whether a cohesive vortex, or center of circulation, was present. That’s a requirement for the disturbance to become a tropical depression.

That could happen by early Friday as the system churns northeast, its center drifting toward the area between Cancún and the western tip of Florida. Despite pernicious wind shear, or a change of wind speed and/or direction with height, the disturbance could reach tropical storm strength and earn the name Alex before arriving in South Florida.

Areas affected: The greatest impacts in Florida will be in the Keys, the Florida Straits and southern parts of the Florida peninsula. That’s because the center of low pressure may pass just to the north of Lake Okeechobee as it slips across south-central Florida on Friday evening. The heaviest rain is projected south of the center.

Timeline: Light rain will break out in the early hours of Friday morning, becoming moderate to heavy from southwest to northeast during the afternoon and evening. The core of the storm — with the gustiest winds and heaviest rain squalls — will traverse the Keys in the predawn hours Saturday and cross through South Florida, including the Miami metro area, during the late morning into the evening hours.

Rainfall totals: Most of the moderate-to-heavy rain will remain south of Tampa to the Port Canaveral line. Fort Myers and Naples might see 2 to 4 inches, but closer to the Everglades and Miami, as well as the Keys, a general 4 to 8 inches appears favored, with maximum totals up to a foot.

Winds: In most places, winds probably will peak only in the blustery range, with gusts between 20 and 35 mph. A small region near the coastline might see sustained winds approach or meet the 39 mph tropical storm threshold if the system is named. There is an outside chance of a stronger tropical storm that could produce winds exceeding 50 mph, which would pose a risk of power outages. The strongest winds are expected Friday night or Saturday morning.

Surge: The surge, or storm-driven rise in water above normally dry land along the coast, is predicated on wind and, ultimately, will depend on the strength of the system. It’s unlikely that the surge exceeds a foot or two or results in more than minor coastal flooding close to high tide. The surge risk is highest in coastal southwestern Florida.

Tornadoes: The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has placed the Keys and extreme southwestern Florida under a level 1 out of 5 “marginal risk” for severe weather for Friday and Saturday to accommodate the potential for quick-hitting tropical tornadoes. That’s because of the wind shear associated with landfalling tropical systems, primarily to the right of the center, which can impart a twisting force on individual cells within the spiral rain bands.

The storm probably will move offshore of Florida and brush the northwestern Bahamas late Saturday before passing over the open northwestern Atlantic near the Gulf Stream. There’s a chance it could strengthen along the way, but it shouldn’t affect land. Most model simulations indicate that it will pass safely north of Bermuda, but residents there should monitor forecasts.