ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is in for a roller-coaster weekend.
Saturday’s forecast is calling for highs soaring into the upper 80s with Orlando expected to peak at 89 degrees — just nudging past the standing record of 88 degrees set in 1989. Sanford is also likely to challenge its record of 87 degrees, as temperatures are expected to climb to 88.
Other areas like Daytona Beach and Leesburg will also see highs in the mid to upper 80s.
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If you’re heading out, abundant sunshine is in the forecast throughout the afternoon and into the evening, making for perfect weather to catch the Orlando City game or any other outdoor plans.
Strong cold front expected to sweep through with showers and much colder air
Don’t get too used to the heat, though — changes are on the horizon. A strong cold front, currently draped across Central Texas, is expected to approach Central Florida by Sunday morning.
While some spotty showers and downpours are likely, especially after 7 a.m., rainfall totals are forecast to stay under a quarter of an inch for most areas. Most of this rain looks to head toward southern counties like Osceola and Brevard.
The front isn’t just bringing a little rain. Once it passes through Sunday afternoon, sharply-colder air is expected to move in along with breezy conditions. Daytime highs will tumble to 58 degrees by Monday and the start of the workweek could feel even chillier with lows dipping into the 30s and 40s, especially when factoring in the wind.
Ongoing drought remains a concern, rain not expected to offer relief
While some might be hoping the upcoming front will help parched lawns and gardens across Central Florida,the expected rainfall isn’t likely to put a dent in current drought conditions.
The latest drought maps show parts of Marion, Volusia, and Flagler counties remain in “extreme drought,” while the metro Orlando area is under a moderate to severe drought.
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