ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is about to get a reminder that winter isn’t done yet, with near-record heat late this week followed by a sharp blast of colder air into early next week.
Record-chasing heat
Afternoon highs will soar into the mid to upper 80s Friday and Saturday, nearing records from the late 1980s. This could be the warmest stretch since early November.
A brisk cold front Sunday will bring a few scattered showers and set the stage for the dramatic temperature drop early next week.
Winter blast arrives
By Monday, highs will be noticeably colder as temperatures struggle to get out of the 60s.
The colder air deepens Monday night, setting the stage for a chilly Tuesday morning. Temperatures are forecast to dip into the 30s across parts of the area.
With a lingering breeze, wind chills could make it feel like the 20s during the early morning hours.
There is even a potential for frost Tuesday morning for many neighborhoods west of I-95.
While we are still technically in winter, our window for strong cold fronts is beginning to close.
Climatologically, Central Florida typically sees its last significant winter-like fronts around spring break season in mid-March. That makes this upcoming cold blast potentially one of our final true tastes of winter.