ORLANDO, Fla. – We’re starting the week with a Weather Alert Day across Central Florida as a blast of cold air, gusty winds and an elevated fire danger create hazardous conditions over the next 48 hours.
MONDAY
A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect through 9 a.m. for much of the region, excluding the immediate coast from southern Brevard as Monday wakeup wind chills are in the upper 20s and low 30s.
Behind a cold front now well south of Florida, much colder and significantly drier air continues to pour into the state.
Afternoon highs will struggle into the mid- to upper 50s, which is about 15-20 degrees below normal and close to record cold highs in a few spots.
Northwest winds will stay breezy at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching 25 to 35 mph. That combination of strong wind, very dry air and ongoing drought conditions means we’re also facing a High Fire Danger. Any spark could spread quickly, so outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.
TUESDAY
The coldest part of this stretch arrives Monday night into early Tuesday morning. A Freeze Warning has been issued for much of Central Florida as overnight lows are forecast to drop into the upper 20s and low 30s across many inland areas.
Winds will ease slightly overnight but will still make it feel like the 20s at times, which is why a Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday. Now is the time to bring pets indoors, protect sensitive plants, cover exposed pipes and use space heaters safely.
Tuesday will bring sunshine and slightly lighter winds as high pressure builds in, but temperatures will remain below normal, with highs in the 60s. Clear skies and light winds Tuesday night will set the stage for another cold night with many areas in the mid 30s to low 40s.
Looking ahead to Friday and the weekend, temperatures will continue warming into the low and even mid-80s. A weak front will approach and stall near or just north of the area, bringing increasing moisture and the return of rain chances.
Showers become likely Friday and Saturday, with rain chances around 40 to 50%. A few isolated storms could develop at times.
While the rain may interrupt outdoor plans, it would provide much-needed relief to the ongoing dry conditions and help lower the fire danger.