ORLANDO, Fla. – A sharp cold front moving through Central Florida Thursday night will send temperatures falling quickly, with freezing conditions developing overnight and lasting into early Friday morning.
Several inland counties will experience hours of subfreezing temperatures, making this the coldest night the area has seen in more than four years.
Marion County
Many in Marion will see temperatures dropping into the mid-30s by midnight, with lows falling below freezing quickly by 2 a.m. Friday.
The latest forecast shows subfreezing conditions likely through 8 a.m. A hard freeze is possible, with temperatures staying below 32 degrees for four to six hours before sunrise.
Sumter County
Neighborhoods with a chance for a hard freeze stretches into Sumter County as lows drop below freezing into the mid-20s before the clock strikes midnight. Like Marion County, residents should take precautions to protect exposed pipes as water could freeze, causing pipes to burst.
Lake County
Expect temperatures to dip into the 30s around midnight, with freezing conditions entering by 4 a.m. Lows bottom out near sunrise before temperatures begin a slow recovery.
Volusia County
Interior neighborhoods in Volusia will fall into the low to mid-30s between midnight and 2 a.m., while coastal locations stay slightly warmer. With the majority of the county experiencing near-freezing temperatures by sunrise with a brief freeze possible inland.
Brevard County
Temperatures steadily fall through the 40s overnight, reaching the mid- to upper 30s inland before sunrise. Coastal areas remain even warmer, with the Barrier Islands staying in the 40s through much of the night.
Coastal Brevard remains the only area in Central Florida outside of the Freeze Warning.
Seminole County
Expect temperatures to drop into the low 30s between 2 to 4 a.m., with near-freezing conditions lasting into the early morning. The coldest readings occur around sunrise.
Orange County
Temperatures fall into the upper 30s shortly after midnight, then dip to around 32–34 degrees by dawn. This will be the coldest morning Orlando has experienced in more than four years.
Osceola County
Lows drop into the mid-30s late overnight, with temperatures hovering just above freezing through sunrise. A hard freeze is unlikely, but it will still be a very cold start to the day.
No matter where you live in Central Florida, this is a cold snap to take seriously. This rare blast of Arctic air brings dangerous cold conditions, so be sure to bring pets indoors and cover sensitive plants.
Exposed pipe precautions should be taken in Marion and Sumter counties, where a hard freeze is likely.