A local family's backyard cookout plans are a reminder that this weekend's weather across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches will demand flexibility and preparation.

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Shawn and Tammy Jones told WPTV First Alert Weather Meteorologist James Wieland and his wife this week that they are throwing a backyard cookout this weekend, even bringing in a hibachi chef for the family celebration. Here is what they can expect.

This weekend's forecast calls for scorching heat combined with frequent thunderstorms. Even when the sun is shining, humidity will make it feel above 100 degrees, and storms can develop quickly meaning conditions can go from sunny to dangerous in minutes.

People across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches should prepare for strong storms, especially during afternoon and early evening hours.

Wieland offered the following safety tips for anyone with outdoor plans this weekend:

This week, I found myself somewhere truly special a place where every animal has a story of survival, grit and determination. Let me tell you about my incredible day at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter Farms!

"We're a wildlife hospital, so we take in between 5,000-6,000 wild animals every year," Busch Wildlife Sanctuary CEO Amy Knight said. "These are animals that are sick, injured, or orphaned. The goal is to get them back out in the wild. Every animal here has a story."

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I met the sanctuary's most famous resident Stu the duck , and let me tell you, he made quite an impression. "Here's our most famous resident. He's already talking. This is Stu."

"Stu!" I called out, and sure enough, this black-bellied whistling duck started engaging with me right away.

Stu was absolutely adorable, and I really enjoyed learning more about him. But what I discovered later made this experience even more meaningful you can actually adopt an animal through donations! It's not like taking an animal home with you, but your donation helps support the animal's care, food, medical needs, and all the important work the sanctuary does.

I met up with anchor Ashley Glass, who is a big fan of Busch Wildlife. She told me we're going to go feed bears!

That's when I met Taya.

"Taya knows that if she wants to get a treat, she's going to have to sit," Knight said. "The reason we do this is when we need to do medical, so we'll ask her things like show us your teeth."

And there I was, feeding walnuts to a Florida black bear! She had such good manners, and was very gentle. I learned that this interaction isn't just for fun it's part of their medical care routine to make sure her pads are okay and to check on her overall health.

"It's all about respect," Knight said.

As I did the checkup routine with Taya, I even got to examine her paws. I was still amazed by how gentle this powerful animal was being with me.

But here's something really cool I learned the bears absolutely love sunflower seeds, and get this: after big tropical rains, their poop actually grows sunflowers! For real! Nature is just incredible, isn't it?

My visit to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary gave me such a greater appreciation for the people who dedicate their lives to caring for wildlife and providing animals with a safe place to recover and thrive.

Admission to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is free and encourages donations. They are open daily, 10 a.m. 4:30 p.m., rain or shine.

This week I'm at Vero Beach High School where students are getting ready to go back to school, and I decided to do something I've never done before I joined the marching band!

I crashed band camp at Vero Beach High School just a few days before school started, and let me tell you, it was an incredible experience.

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The first time I stepped onto that practice field, I could feel the history before I even picked up my instrument. This wasn't just another high school band this was a tradition stretching back to 1934, when the Fighting Indians Band was founded as part of the Federal Music Project during the Great Depression. Every student who had ever worn that uniform had helped build an incredible legacy.

I got to meet some amazing students who are keeping that tradition alive, like Annabel Robbins who plays flute piccolo and is a drum major.

Brady, an incoming senior, is the woodwind captain and section leader.

"It's kind of scary, you know," Brady said. "You're in charge of a lot of kids, so you got to make sure they're all doing good.

The band director, Sean Srigley, has a special connection to this program that goes way back.

"I'm actually alumni of Vero Beach High School. I was in the band myself," Srigley explained. "The cool thing about Vero is we've got awesome academics, awesome athletics. Our band is right there with them. We've marched in pretty much every big parade you could have in America."

And he's not exaggerating! This band has an absolutely incredible resume. They performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1988, marching through the streets of New York City and playing "Alexander's Ragtime Band" for millions of television viewers. Can you imagine? That single performance became one of the defining moments in the program's history and remains a source of pride for every new generation of members.

But that's not all they've also performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Orange Bowl and even Carnegie Hall! The program has earned decades of Superior ratings and national recognition while representing our Treasure Coast with pride.

After learning about all this amazing history, it was time for me to get to work. First up? The tuba. But honestly, that wasn't really my thing, so I tried the drums next.

But joining the marching band for practice meant more than just learning music and drill. It meant discipline and the ability to stand for a long time in that Florida heat something these kids do with incredible dedication.

As I marched onto the football field, I couldn't help but imagine all the students who had stood in that same place before me. Some had gone on to march through Manhattan in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Others had performed in famous bowl games or international parades.

As I left Vero Beach High School that day, I was thankful for the opportunity to be part of something so special, even for just one practice. These students aren't just making music they're carrying on a legacy that's been building for nearly 90 years.

It is time to find out where I've been exploring this week. This week's clue placed me near a tree that saves lives!

I found myself pedaling across the Flagler Memorial Bridge with Visit Palm Beach, and let me tell you, I was excited about what we were going to discover. My guide told me we were heading to see some very pretty things when we got over to the Lake Trail and Ocean Boulevard, and boy, was that an understatement.

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What struck me immediately was how the Lake Trail hugs the water for most of its length. And there's the Breakers that absolutely stunning hotel and what looked like a golf course stretching out beside it. I learned that it's one of the oldest golf courses in Florida!

Then I noticed it this magnificent, towering tree that seemed to command the entire area.

And that's when I learned something absolutely fascinating.

"That's a kapok tree," my guide explained. "Its seeds create this cotton-like substance that was used in bedding and linens. But here's the really amazing part it has a buoyancy effect, so they used kapok in life vests and life preservers. That tree has witnessed so much history on Palm Beach Island. They say it's over 200 years old."

I was blown away. Here I was, standing next to a tree that literally helped save lives! The kapok was first used by the U.S. Navy starting in 1915 for life preservers. During World War II, they stopped using it for that purpose, but you know what? They still use kapok today in those alternative pillows we love, the ones with bamboo and kapok filling that are so comfortable.

Standing there in its shade, looking out over the water where countless boats have passed by over the decades, I felt connected to all the history this tree has witnessed.

The whole experience reminded me why I love these adventures so much. You never know what amazing stories you're going to uncover when you start exploring. A simple bike ride can lead you to a 200-year-old tree with a life-saving legacy that most people just walk right past without knowing its incredible story.

That's the beauty of getting out there and asking questions you discover that even the most ordinary-looking places have extraordinary tales to tell.

The moment I pulled into Holiday Everglades Park, I could feel the excitement building.

I had signed up to learn how to catch Burmese pythons ahead of the Florida Python Challenge, and I couldn't wait to learn what it really takes to track one of Florida's most infamous invasive species. Instead of just watching videos online, I was finally going to hear from the experts and get hands-on experience.

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Our instructors wasted no time explaining why Burmese pythons have become such a serious problem in the Everglades. They talked about how these massive snakes prey on native wildlife, disrupting one of the world's most unique ecosystems. It quickly became clear that this wasn't about trophies or adventureit was about conservation and protecting Florida's natural resources. The training focused heavily on safety, proper identification, and the humane handling of invasive pythons, just like the official Florida Python Challenge training emphasizes.

Then came the part I had been looking forward to the mostlearning the capture techniques. Watching experienced handlers demonstrate how to safely approach, control, and secure a large python was fascinating. They stressed that every movement has a purpose and that confidence comes from training, not taking unnecessary risks. Seeing these professionals work made me appreciate just how strong and unpredictable these snakes can be.

Being surrounded by the Everglades only added to the experience. Airboats buzzed across the marsh, alligators rested along the shoreline, and birds circled overhead. It reminded me that this incredible ecosystem is worth protecting and that every invasive python removed can make a difference for native wildlife.

By the end of the day, I left Holiday Everglades Park with far more knowledge than I arrived with. I gained a deeper respect for the men and women who spend countless hours searching the Everglades, often at night, looking for snakes that are masters of camouflage.

This class wasn't just educationalit gave me a firsthand look at the dedication required to help preserve one of America's most remarkable wilderness areas.