Temperatures will drop in South Florida to the 60s, according to the National Weather Service forecast, but it will be colder in other areas of the state including Orlando, Fort Myers, Tallahassee, Tampa.
Miami Herald File
Florida is about to get chilled down.
But on its own terms: in stages.
Nick Carr, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said the initial cold front that arrives Thursday into Friday is trending a little weaker in terms of how cold it will get.
“It kind of waffled,” he said. South Florida on Thursday and Friday can expect lows in the low- to mid-60s.
“Nothing crazy,” Carr said.
It’ll be colder in Southwest and Central Florida and much colder in the state’s capital city.
High temperatures Thursday and Friday in the Miami area will be in the low-80s, and Friday brings the best chance for rain at 60%.
The second cold front that could arrive Sunday night into Monday morning could bring South Florida down to the low-60s and highs in the low- to mid-70s which is a bit below normal, Carr said.
Phil Ferro, meteorologist for WSVN-Channel 7, also noted that the Sunday cold front “is losing its punch” and that the models meteorologists were looking at on Tuesday by Wednesday no longer showed temperatures dropping into the upper-50s.
Saturday and Sunday rain chances are 40% and 30%, respectively.
How cold will it get around Florida?
▪ Florida Keys: Rain likely Thursday night into Friday at 50% and 60%, respectively. Highs in the upper-70s and lows in the lower-70s through Tuesday. Rain chances decline to 30% over the weekend and 20% Monday.
▪ Orlando and Central Florida: “Obviously colder than us and ahead of us,” Carr said. There’s a 70% rain chance Thursday night and temperatures fall to the mid-50s and only get as high as 70 degrees on Friday with lows in the 50s. Saturday brings back rain at 40% and the mercury only rises to mid- or low-60s and it gets chilly in the upper-40s through Sunday night. Monday and Tuesday get highs up to 70 with lows in the upper-50s.
▪ Tampa Bay: Thunderstorms Thursday at 90% with highs at 79 and lows 20 degrees cooler at night into Friday. Saturday the next front brings highs in the upper-60s, lows in upper-50s. Sunday will only reach about 63 degrees with lows around 49.
▪ Southwest Florida: Thursday is the wettest day at 60% with highs at 82 and lows at 66. Friday rain declines as do temperatures, a bit. Saturday hits 75 degrees. Sunday will be cool at 69 down to 53 degrees and 20% rain chance.
▪ Gainesville: Thunderstorms Thursday at 90% and lows around 46 and highs at 74. Friday into the weekend brings cooler temperatures and lower rain chances. Lows dip to the upper-30s Saturday and Sunday nights and only climb to 56 degrees.
▪ Tallahassee: Wednesday night brings thunderstorms in on a 90% chance and Thursday will be stormy, too, at 80%. Highs at 70 and lows in the 40s. By the weekend, “you’re talking legit lows in the 30s,” Carr, at the weather service, said. The weekend brings highs in the mid-50s and lows in the mid-30s.
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