ORLANDO, Fla. – A front pushing south through Central Florida is bringing in noticeably drier air, and by the weekend we’ll see the coolest mornings we’ve felt in months.
We started Thursday with a few spotty showers, but rain chances will continue to come down as the drier air works south. We’ll keep about a 20%-30% chance of a passing shower through the day, with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 80s.
The bigger change will be the humidity. Drier air is already beginning to filter into Central Florida behind the front, and you’ll really notice it by Friday and into the weekend.
By Saturday morning, much of the area will wake up in the 60s. Orlando International Airport is forecast to dip into the upper 60s. The last time the temperature at MCO dropped below 70 degrees was June 8, when the low reached 69. That means it will have been about 110 days since Orlando last felt the 60s.
Morning lows should remain in the 60s through the weekend, with afternoon highs mainly in the 80s. Humidity will also stay lower, making mornings and evenings feel much more comfortable.
Gusty winds and St. Johns River concerns
The front is also bringing a significant increase in north to northeast winds. Gusts could reach 30 to 35 mph Thursday, especially closer to the coast, and winds will remain gusty into Friday and at least the first part of the weekend.
Those persistent northerly winds are also causing problems along the St. Johns River at Astor. The river is currently in Action Stage and is forecast to rise into Minor Flood Stage Thursday evening. This is not being driven by additional rainfall. Strong northerly winds can slow or even reverse the river’s flow, allowing water levels to rise. Minor flooding could continue through at least the weekend.
Conditions will also be rough at the beaches and offshore. Strong winds will produce dangerous surf, a strong longshore current and an increased rip-current threat. Beachgoers should use extra caution even as the weather becomes more inviting this weekend.
Fay is a tropical storm again
In the Atlantic, Fay has regained tropical storm strength. As of the latest National Hurricane Center advisory, Fay had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west-southwest at 9 mph. The storm remains far out in the Atlantic, about 935 miles west-southwest of the Azores, with no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Little change in strength is expected during the next day or two before Fay gradually weakens. No threat to Florida
