ORLANDO, Fla. – Brighter skies and cooler temperatures return to Central Florida before a gentle warmup arrives this weekend.
A cold front quietly cleared Central Florida early Thursday.
Behind the front, cooler and much drier air will settle in, keeping highs limited to the mid-60s to low 70s.
The coldest point of the week will be early Friday.
Rural neighborhoods north and west of I-4 could fall into the upper 30s, while most inland spots drop into the low to mid-40s.
From Friday into the weekend, high pressure settles over Central Florida and then shifts offshore, leading to a slow warming trend.
Afternoon highs rise from the low to mid-70s on Friday to the mid- to upper 70s over the weekend.
Overnight lows moderate as well, with mid-40s to mid 50s Friday night and lows in the low 50s to lower 60s Saturday night.
Moisture increases slightly by Saturday and Sunday, bringing low rain chances at 20-30% south of Orlando, while the majority of the region stays dry.
By Sunday night and into early next week, another front is expected to clear the region, reintroducing cooler temperatures and a breezy setup.
Highs on Monday fall back into the mid-60s to low 70s, with nighttime lows Sunday and Monday dipping into the upper 40s to mid 50s.
Dry air quickly takes over once more, keeping conditions largely rain free.
If you’re wondering what the weather will be like on Christmas Day in the Orlando area, here’s a first look from Jonathan Kegges.