ORLANDO, Fla. – Extreme cold has flooded the Central Florida viewing area just as rising waters during a flash flood would. The end is near, but we’re not quite there yet.
Then we shift gears and start tracking warming trends and even some rain on the horizon.
Here’s what the week ahead could look like for all of us.
First things first – extreme cold remains in play. The warning issued yesterday will come back into play at 7 p.m. tonight and last until 10 a.m. Monday. These are pivotal times to remember, as a good majority of us head out first thing tomorrow for work or school.
A freeze warning is also in effect for the same times above. So you must plan your Monday morning accordingly.
As we get settled in this evening, you’ll want to be cautious using your heater or setting it too high. Energy providers in the area have already made mention of reserves running thin, and capacity being pushed to its limits.
Nevertheless, find ways to get warm because we’ll be right back or below freezing by the midnight hour.
The majority of our counties could spend around 6-8 hours below freezing once more, so while this isn’t to the same extent as yesterday into this morning we still want to keep our prep work up.
Feels like temps when the sun rises tomorrow will be sitting in the low to mid 20s. A thick jacket or coat is a requirement before you head outside. If you’re one of the lucky ones who had it installed with their cars, the remote start and heater before you wander through the door will be such a huge perk.
Heated seats and steering wheels? Take full advantage!
Skies will be clear but winds will stay somewhat breezy. Today we’ve seen winds between 15-25 mph, and tomorrow especially mid afternoon we’ll continue to feel occasional gusts approaching 15-20 mph.
There is some hope – some being the key here. Afternoon highs will rebound into the low to mid 50s, so the persistent sunshine will actually feel just a tad more realistic than it did today.
Please spend some time ensuring you’re taking care of yourselves just as much as your homes and other property. We can’t continue to work hard and enjoy the upcoming pleasant weather if our immune systems take a hit.
Speaking of pleasant weather, by Tuesday and Wednesday the 60s and maybe some stray 70s during the warmest section of the afternoon will make a return.
That’s because we’re awaiting the arrival of a smaller pulse of energy that’s going to try and tank our temperatures again. This one won’t be nearly as strong, so we won’t have to worry about freezing conditions, ice, or even snow.
This does come with a chance for some morning rains in a few spots as the leading edge of the cold air dome swings through. With what warmth we can generate between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning, the atmosphere might have enough juice to give us some much-needed rainfall.
Cold has been the name of the game, but I’ve been hearing reports of more and more fires being sparked suddenly. On top of that, extreme drought is beginning to show face in some of our viewing area which is never a good sign.
Rain chances do remain on the lower side though, and we are by no means advertising a rainy Thursday. More like the typical tempo for a Florida winter, where a small dousing of rain hits just before cold air flies in behind it.
By the first weekend of February, conditions should be pleasant here across town. No major wintry weather ahead for the time being, and looking down the pike towards Valentines Day we could be in ABOVE average temperatures all over again!
More on that to come, for now let’s continue to brave this arctic invasion together as a community.