ORLANDO, Fla. – For the first time this winter, we’re getting hit with the coldest air yet—and it could end up being the coldest temperatures we’ve seen in several years.
Friday morning lows could drop into the mid-20s across our northern counties, prompting Hard Freeze Warnings. Marion and Alachua counties are most at risk, with the National Weather Service closely monitoring temperature trends in Flagler and Volusia counties.
We’re forecasting the coldest Jan. 16 in 44 years. The current standing record for absolute COLDEST Jan. 16 in the greater Orlando area comes out of 1927, when the air dropped to 25 degrees downtown.
Now, thankfully we’re not getting THAT low based on current projections. But we will experience an extended period of freezing conditions. Hard freeze conditions are more than likely to be observed the further north from Orlando you go.
A few computer models are hinting at a very low-end chance of snow flurries near the Florida–Georgia state line. While it’s a long shot, it really shows just how deep and intense this cold air mass will be for all of us.
We will likely flirt with making the top 10 coldest days in January for all time here in Florida, given the reigning champ is only half a degree from where our forecast high is set to top out come Friday afternoon in Orlando.
To see how cold it got during our last major freeze this time of year, take a look at the dates and temperatures from last year’s event.