ORLANDO, Fla. – While millions across the Deep South, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Northeast brace for what could become the strongest winter storm of the season, Florida will be living a completely different weather story as highs reach near-record temperatures.
FRIDAY-WEEKEND
Mostly dry conditions will dominate across much of Florida. A few isolated showers near the coast will be possible. The big story is the warming trend through Sunday.
Afternoon highs climb from the upper 70s and low 80s Friday into the mid- and upper 80s by Sunday. Several inland locations may flirt with daily record highs, with temperatures running nearly 15 degrees above normal by the end of the weekend.
This warmth comes as a powerful winter system impacts a large portion of the eastern United States. The same storm driving dangerous travel conditions, sub-zero wind chills and heavy snow to the north will stay well removed from Florida, allowing southerly winds to pump in unusually warm air instead.
MONDAY
As we start the new workweek, a cold front associated with that system finally sweeps through Florida. Scattered showers are possible with the front, with coverage at 20-30%.
Once the front passes, the brief heat wave will be swapped out for cool and breezy conditions.
NEXT WEEK
The rest of next week looks notably cooler and drier. High pressure builds in, reinforcing a return to below-normal temperatures.
Afternoon highs are expected to settle into the 50s and 60s, with overnight lows dipping into the 30s and low 40s.
Additional fronts later in the week may reinforce the chill, signaling the start of a longer stretch of cooler-than-average weather.