ORLANDO, Fla. – Much colder air has arrived across Central Florida on Tuesday behind a strong cold front that pushed through yesterday, bringing strong storms to the area.
You will feel the difference right away this morning. Temperatures have dropped into the 40s for many inland areas, with some spots north of Orlando dipping into the low 40s. When you factor in the wind, it feels even chillier. Wind chills are starting the day in the mid 30s to low 40s, so you will want a jacket if you are heading out early.
Even with some sunshine later Tuesday, we are not warming up much. Highs will only reach the upper 50s to mid 60s, which is about 20 to 25 degrees colder than what we felt yesterday. For perspective, the average high this time of year is 79 degrees, so we are running well below normal.
Radar estimates show that over the last two days, some spots in Central Florida picked up between two and four inches of rain. Our extended forecast remains dry.
The chilly pattern continues Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Overnight lows will fall back into the 40s for most inland spots, with wind chills once again dipping into the upper 30s in some areas. A frost advisory has been issued for central and western Marion County from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday, where patchy frost will be possible.
Wednesday afternoon will bring a little improvement, with highs reaching the mid 60s to low 70s under increasing sunshine.
If you are heading to the beach, especially with spring break getting underway, conditions remain dangerous. There is a high risk of life-threatening rip currents along the Atlantic coast on Tuesday, and that risk will likely stay elevated into Wednesday. It is best to stay out of the water or only swim near a lifeguard.
Boating conditions are also rough. Strong winds and elevated seas will create hazardous conditions, especially offshore.
Looking ahead, we will start a gradual warmup later this week. Highs return to the 70s by Thursday and Friday, and by the weekend, we are back in the low to mid 80s with plenty of sunshine.