Residents in Orlando and the surrounding regions are bracing for a bout of cooler weather that's set to bring wind chill values in the 30s early this morning, and there's even a possibility of frost development over portions of the interior by early Sunday, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne FL. Winds are also making for less-than-ideal boating conditions continuing into tonight, so for those planning to brave the waters, it might be wise to rethink those plans.
The cold snap is anticipated to give way to a warming trend starting Sunday afternoon and continuing through early next week. However, this relative warmth will be short-lived as a strong cold front is expected to introduce well below-normal temperatures from Tuesday into the middle of next week, keeping layers and heaters at the ready despite the calendar's suggestion that Florida should be basking in more temperate climes, as for precipitation; forecasts reckon a dry spell is most likely, with only a low to medium potential for showers pegged at 20-30 percent come Monday, winding down to a low chance of rain at 20 percent next Friday.
In a more detailed look by the National Weather Service, today's afternoon highs will struggle to reach beyond the low to upper 60s, a full 10 degrees below the norm for this period. They're expecting it to be the coldest night of the week due to clear skies and negligible wind, with temperatures dipping into the mid to upper 30s in the north and not much warmer in the south where the thermometer is only expected to nudge the low to mid-40s, even though Orlando itself will sit slightly more comfortably in the low to mid-50s.
Boaters should especially heed warnings as the marine forecast signals poor to hazardous seas today, with northerly winds decreasing only marginally from the gusty 20-25 knots this morning to about 10 knots overnight. Seas 5-8 feet in the morning will subside to a somewhat more manageable 2-4 feet nearshore and 3-6 feet offshore by tonight. A Small Craft Advisory is in place for all waters until later in the morning, with nearshore Volusia and Brevard waters expected to see conditions ease up by late morning; however, the Gulf Stream waters are set to continue under advisory until 1 AM.
For aviary enthusiasts and the traveling public alike, the latest aviation outlook is clear skies ahead with VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions anticipated throughout the TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) period meaning that those bird-watching with binoculars or looking out from a plane's window should enjoy unobstructed views; albeit winds will gust up to 20 knots today but will simmer down by the evening, according to the National Weather Service's aviation section.
