Friday, March 12, 2010 -- 3 a.m.

Many areas of Central Florida received 2 to 3 inches of rain yesterday, with some spots managing to pick up 4 to 5 inches. We have another chance of picking up similar totals as we move through our Friday, as moisture continues to lift into the area from the south and west.

While winds will generally run in the 5 to 10 mph range, winds will easily gust to the 40 to 50 mph range as thunderstorms build, with the tornadic threat once again on the high side.

Skies will remain cloudy through the day, with temperatures attempting to push to the low 70s, though clouds and rain may hold many in the mid- to upper 60s.

Along with the gusty winds and heavy rain, watch for frequent lightning to accompany some thunderstorms that attempt to develop.

Residents in flood-prone areas should watch carefully for additional accumulation to add to the threat as we move through the day, with rains eventually backing off late this afternoon and early this evening.

Clouds will begin to break as we move through the overnight, though winds will shift and pick up, eventually running in the 15 to 20 mph range for our Saturday as they come in from the west.

We should remain rain-free from Sunday through Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the low 70s after bottoming out in the upper 40s and low 50s.

Rain chances will increase slightly for Wednesday and Thursday, though action is expected to be limited. Monitor the situation closely through the day as activity continues to build.