The National Weather Service in Melbourne, FL, has issued a warning about an ongoing high risk of life-threatening rip currents at Atlantic beaches through the week, as well as a warming trend set to ride out the weekend, with a stronger cold front anticipated to bring a noticeable cool-down early the following week. The outlook is for dry conditions to continue over much of the week, with low rain chances starting to return by the weekend, according to a forecast discussion released by the National Weather Service.
Under predominantly zonal airflow, temperatures will climb into the low 80s today, while tonight will see a drop to more moderate temperatures ranging from upper 50s to low 60s across the north and mid to upper 60s down south. While dry conditions are expected to persist with a stray chance for partly cloudy skies, the authorities continue to emphasize the present danger of the strong rip currents, strongly discouraging beachgoers from entering the surf.
As we head towards the end of the week, a slight shift in the weather pattern will occur with a broad upper-level high pressure beginning to weaken on Thursday, and as a result, a trough moving over the Midwest and Great Lakes region by Friday, leading to a southward push of a cold front into the Deep South by Saturday. Despite this, the local onshore flow is expected to veer south to southwest by Saturday, fostering the development of the east coast sea breeze each afternoon.
The drier air that has been in place is forecast to lift northward on Thursday and moisture will increase, but with weak forcing in the equation the rain chances, though returning to the forecast by Friday, remain low and limited to areas south of Melbourne to Lake Okeechobee, before drier air takes the stage once again on Saturday with guidance beginning to hint at possible patchy fog, mainly north of the I-4 corridor, from Thursday night into Friday morning - although confidence is low and thus excluding mention of patchy fog from the current forecast at this time.
Looking further ahead to Sunday through Tuesday, another upper level trough is predicted to emerge over the upper Midwest/Great Lakes region, dragging a strong cold front into the Deep South that will cross east central Florida Sunday night into Monday morning, with high pressure building in behind it into Tuesday, light south to southwest winds on Wednesday will veer west to northwest Sunday evening with the frontal passage before becoming northerly Monday behind the front and increasing to 10-15mph. Winds will continue to veer north to northeast on Tuesday, remaining breezy, especially in the afternoon, the forecast discussion elucidates.
The marine outlook also merits caution, with improving conditions through Sunday but a strong cold front expected to push through Sunday night, necessitating potential Small Craft Advisory/Small Craft should exercise caution headlines for portions of the Atlantic waters, so mariners should stay abreast with the latest updates as sea conditions could rapidly change.
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