The chilly embrace that has held Orlando in a shiver will persist a while longer, with forecasters from the National Weather Service Melbourne, FL, issuing a Freeze Warning for parts of the region into early Saturday. Residents in Lake and inland Volusia counties should brace for lows in the 30s tonight, warned the service in an advisory issued at 506 AM EST. The accompanying wind chill factor could make temperatures feel as low as the mid-20s, necessitating a Cold Weather Advisory that extends northward through 9 AM. With dry conditions generally projected across the area through the weekend and next week, this frosty spell might seem like an extended uninvited guest, overstaying its welcome.
The cold snap, courtesy of a low-pressure system east of Florida, has been marked by extensive cloud cover and occasional drizzle, particularly near the I-4 corridor. The forecast predicts a decrease in cloud cover from northwest to southeast today, finally allowing residents to welcome back some sunshine into the fold. Nonetheless, the northerly winds are a persistent visitor, funneling colder air into the region and pinning today’s highs well below average in the mid to upper 50s. Moving into Saturday, a high-pressure system inching southeast sets the stage for a slight warm-up onshore, nudging temperatures back to the 60s while still stubbornly clinging below normal ranges.
As for the marine conditions, boaters have been advised to exercise caution. The same low pressure causing the cold temperatures on land is stirring up trouble at sea, resulting in north-to-northwest winds up to 20-25 knots and keeping seas up to 7-10 feet high. The National Weather Service has extended a Small Craft Advisory across all adjacent Atlantic waters well into the weekend. Conditions, however, will begin to simmer down late weekend and into the beginning of next week as high pressure asserts its calm over the southeast U.S., leading to more favorable boating conditions…