Good evening, Central Florida. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

A drier pocket of air in the atmosphere will help keep most of us rain free tomorrow and Saturday, but deeper moisture moving up the peninsula from the Gulf means more widespread rain from Sunday into early next week. Under a mostly sunny Friday sky, we'll heat back up to around 90. A few isolated storms are possible in the afternoon.

Sunshine to kick off Saturday, then a few isolated afternoon showers and storms develop. Highs top out close to 90.

Scattered showers and storms become more likely Sunday with highs in the lower to middle 80s. This system in the Gulf of Mexico is not expected to become tropical in nature, but will provide locally heavy rainfall over the southern half of the Florida peninsula.

Highs: Near 90 Lows: Mid-70s Rain Coverage: 30%

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Today's Big Stories

1. Biden heads to Florida and Georgia to survey damage from Hurricane Helene one week after it made landfall
The Biden administration has sought to tout its response to the storm, with the president this week telling reporters his “top priority” was ensuring impacted communities get the support they need as quickly as possible.  

• Death toll reaches 200 after Helene, the deadliest hurricane to hit mainland U.S. since Katrina
  

• National Weather Service releases report on Helene

2. The president could invoke a 1947 law to pause the dockworkers' strike
Biden has said, though, that he won’t intervene in the strike.

3. ULA to launch second test mission for Vulcan Centaur rocket
For those who do not mind waking up early Friday morning, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be launching its second certification mission of its Vulcan Centaur rocket.

4. Amazon, Target and other retailers ramping up hiring for holiday shopping season
Amazon plans to hire 250,000 full, part-time and seasonal workers for the crucial shopping period

5. Israel extends evacuation warnings in Lebanon, signaling a wider offensive
At least eight Israeli soldiers have been killed in clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike on an apartment in central Beirut late Wednesday killed nine people.

6. A 5th recall for Tesla Cybertruck within a year, the latest due to rearview display
The latest recall is due to an issue with the rearview camera display.

7. UCF, UF set for intrastate matchup; Miami hits the road, and FSU takes on Clemson
Take a look at what's coming up in college football.

Your Notes For Tomorrow

• Free Sandbags: Winter Springs will start self-serve sandbag operations on Friday at Central Winds Park as a precautionary measure because of the expected increase in rain in the upcoming days. Empty bags and sand will be available to all residents of Seminole County Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or while supplies last. Residents are limited to 15 sandbags per household. Bring their own shovels and gloves, and be prepared to fill and load the bags yourself.

• Free Movie: Kissimmee Utility Authority will host its free annual Movie in the Park event on Friday, Oct. 4, at the Veterans Lawn of Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Activities start at 5:30 p.m. and the movie “Inside Out 2” will start at sunset. Find more information here.

• Farm Fair: A fall maze and scavenger hunt, a Haunted Halloween maze and a Dark Forest Trail of Terror will be featured at Lake Catherine Farms in Groveland.  Tickets for these events range from $6 to $28. Parking and admission to the farm are complimentary. Check Lake Catherin Farms' website for more details.


• NATIONAL NOTES
  • U.S. employment report
  • NHL regular season begins
  • Murder suspect in extradition hearing after her children shot dead in U.S.