The National Weather Service Melbourne, FL, has issued the latest forecast for Orlando, indicating a warm start before a weakening cold front is expected to arrive on Saturday. According to the Area Forecast Discussion, there's a chance for dense sea fog along portions of the Atlantic Coast early this morning, possibly dissipating by mid to late morning. Motorists are advised to slow down, use only low-beam headlights, and leave plenty of distance between vehicles.
Breezy conditions are expected to prevail ahead of the cold front, with high temperatures creeping towards the lower 80s—perhaps a few mid-80s across the interior. The upper 70s to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast can be anticipated with a slight onshore wind component. For those planning any nighttime activities, overnight lows are forecast to be in the upper 50s to lower 60s. The Service suggests keeping an umbrella handy, though they mostly expect dry conditions with just a sprinkle/brief shower with boundary passage northward.
Looking towards the weekend, "The weakening cold front will continue to press southward during the morning/early afternoon from central FL through the Treasure Coast and Lake Okeechobee," as the National Weather Service Melbourne, FL reported. This may lead to considerable cloudiness, although precipitation chances remain relatively low. Following the passage of the front, temperatures are expected to dip slightly, with cooler highs forecast for most areas.
Those heading to sea should be wary of fog development early this morning, particularly off the coast from Ft. Pierce northward. Mariners must monitor for potential hazards until the fog lifts later in the morning. The National Weather Service has opted for Cautionary Statements rather than issuing Small Craft Advisories, but this could change if conditions worsen. Sea states are predicted to be relatively calm, with waves ranging from 2-3 feet near shore to up to 5 feet well offshore north of the Cape tonight.
Conditions for aviation are anticipated to improve by late morning, with VFR conditions prevailing after an early presence of IFR to LIFR visibility. Southerly winds are expected to be around 10 knots, with potential gusts of up to 25 knots at the Treasure Coast terminals. Regarding temperatures, the first full week of February is looking to stay above normal, a trend that appears to continue despite the front's arrival.
