Mild and warm weather expected through Christmas
ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’re hoping to enjoy some sun and comfort this Christmas, Central Florida is truly delivering.
The warmth that’s defined the last several days is sticking around for the holiday. Afternoon highs are holding steady in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees, making for a stretch of weather that’s not just pleasant but also a few degrees above the seasonal average.
Through the Christmas holiday, it doesn’t look like there will be any noticeable change. I am calling it a “copy and paste forecast.” It was a bit of a struggle simply rewriting the same morning and afternoon temperatures on your seven-day forecast today.
Nights will be refreshingly mild, as well, with overnight lows ranging from the upper 50s to low 60s across most of the region, while areas near Melbourne might stay a bit warmer thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream.
Sunshine and just a few wispy clouds are on tap, keeping outdoor plans stress-free through Christmas Day. This is the kind of Florida winter that feels almost like a bonus round of fall.
No rain in sight, but high risk at the coast
While the weather itself looks calm, beachgoers need to be extra cautious. There’s a high rip current risk running along the Atlantic coast, especially for Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties, with surf in the 3 - 5 foot range.
That means while December skies are clear, quick-moving water at area beaches could prove dangerous. So if you’re thinking of heading out for some holiday fun in the waves, be sure to take it slow and stick close to lifeguards.
High pressure is actively sliding east to the north of our neighborhood right now, trying to push a weak cold boundary through the area. Because it’s moving more easterly, it’s coming across Central Florida from the opposite direction.
It’s also driving wind speeds up fairly high. Some spots in the Orlando area and outer-lying counties are seeing gusts upwards of 20-25mph this afternoon, with the coast being slightly higher, creating those dangerous rip current conditions.
Satellite shows some faint ripples of clouds moving in from the Atlantic, providing Polk, Osceola, and Brevard with sprinkles and drizzles this afternoon.
This will be the last of the rains for a little while, at least until the jet stream becomes a bit more aggravated as we approach New Year’s.
On the rain front, it’s more of the same—there’s simply none to be found for at least a week, possibly up to two. Dominant high-pressure systems are keeping the area dry, so any hopes for a seasonal soggy day are on hold for now.
Forecast shift: colder air and rain possible near New Year’s
As 2026 approaches, we’re keeping an eye on a notable pattern change.
While the immediate Christmas period will be warm and dry, models show the potential for a surge of polar and Arctic air to push south towards the end of December.
Right now, confidence is slowly growing surrounding the possibility of a cold front around Dec. 29 - 31, bringing with it a return to below-average temperatures and perhaps the first real rain chances in weeks.
It’s important to note there’s still some uncertainty about the timing and strength of this shift, so keep checking in with News 6 Weather for updates as New Year’s draws closer.
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