ORLANDO, Fla. – Changes are on the way after some Central Florida cities hit record highs Wednesday.
All of Central Florida was well above our normal high of 7. But Leesburg and Sanford both hit new record highs. Leesburg topped out at 89 Wednesday, beating the previous record of 88 set in 2015. Sanford was also in record territory, climbing to 90. Sanford’s previous record was 88, set in 1967.
A warm and quiet evening is ahead across Central Florida, but changes arrive Thursday as a cold front moves through with a line of showers and a few storms. That front will also set the stage for a more unsettled start to spring break for many local families next week.
Here’s a look at the timeline.
TONIGHT: MILD AND MOSTLY DRY
It will stay warm and quiet this evening across Central Florida.
Temperatures fall slowly through the 80s after sunset, eventually settling into the mid to upper 60s overnight. Skies stay mostly clear with a light breeze developing late.
The atmosphere remains fairly dry tonight, so rain is not expected. Patchy fog is possible in a few spots early Thursday morning, but widespread fog is unlikely.
THURSDAY: STORMS ARRIVE WITH A COLD FRONT
Thursday will start warm and breezy, with temperatures quickly climbing into the mid to upper 80s by the afternoon.
Most of the day will be dry before rain chances increase later in the day as a cold front approaches.
Storm timeline:
Mid-afternoon (around 2 - 4 p.m.): Showers and a few storms begin developing across Lake and Volusia counties.
Late afternoon (4 - 6 p.m.): The line of showers and storms pushes south toward the Orlando metro and the I-4 corridor.
Evening (6 - 9 p.m.)Storms continue moving south across the rest of Central Florida before weakening.
Some storms could briefly become strong, producing frequent lightning, wind gusts up to 40 - 45 mph, and small hail in isolated spots.
Rain chances will be highest north of Orlando, but scattered showers and storms are possible across the entire area.
FRIDAY: FRONT STALLS, SHOWERS LINGER
The front slows and stalls near or just south of the area Friday.
That means scattered showers and a few storms remain possible, especially south of Orlando. Temperatures cool slightly but still stay comfortable with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.
SPRING BREAK OUTLOOK: A MIXED BAG
Many Central Florida schools begin spring break this weekend, and the weather will be a bit unsettled at times.
Weekend: Higher rain chances return with scattered showers and storms possible both days. Highs will remain in the 80s.
Monday: Another stronger cold front approaches with additional rain chances.
Tuesday and Wednesday: Noticeably cooler than normal behind the front. Afternoon highs drop into the 60s and low 70s while overnight lows fall into the 40s and 50s.
So while spring break will not be a washout, it will feature a mix of rain chances, warm days, and a midweek cool down.