Severe storms possible this afternoon

Numerous thunderstorms are expected this afternoon in Southwest Florida, and forecasters aren’t ruling out the possibility that some could be severe.

The National Weather Service said interior South Florida and the Gulf Coast could see several storms today. Strong heating and unstable conditions will help to ignite the storms this afternoon and evening.

Storms are mostly likely to develop after about 2 p.m., forecasters said.

The high temperature is expected to reach about 90 degrees today with mostly sunny skies giving way to mostly cloudy skies. The heat index is expected to reach about 99 degrees.

The chance of rain today is 60 percent.

The low early Friday will dip to about 73 degrees, then the mercury Friday afternoon should top out at about 90, the weather service said.

Naples Municipal Airport has picked up 7.77 inches of rain this month. The average June brings 8.18 inches of rain to the city, weather service records indicate.