ORLANDO, Fla. – Big changes are headed to Central Florida over the next 24 hours as a stalled cold front in the panhandle begins to push south through the rest of the state.
Those changes have already been noticeable with highs reaching the mid-to-upper 70s earlier this afternoon. The official high temperature in Orlando was 77. Compared to Sunday, that’s 20 degrees warmer than the official high temperature at 4 p.m. yesterday.
The muggy air was another noticeable change as it warmed up. Scattered showers with an isolated thunderstorm or two pick up late in the afternoon through the evening.
Tonight we can’t rule out a few sprinkles of rain, but the fog is going to be the big story by tomorrow morning.
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Lows range from the upper 50s to the mid 60s.
Areas of patchy fog settle in after 10 p.m. Fog will continue to thicken, turning dense as it spreads out through the morning commute.
Commuters should prepare by adding a little extra time to get to your destination. Don’t forget to use low beams, also.
Visibility could be under a mile at times. This is especially true for everyone west of Interstate 95. Dense fog advisories may be issued.
The fog will linger through 9 or 10 a.m.
Tuesday, the rain chances will be slightly higher as a strong cold front approaches.
Isolated showers begin around sunrise northwest of Interstate 4.
By lunch time not only will it be warm in the low 70s, but the showers and thunderstorms pick up as they are pushed to the south courtesy of the cold front.
Much of the heavy rain clears out by the early evening. High pressure will strengthen behind the front pushing much colder air into Central Florida.
Tuesday night will turn cold with lows in the 30s and 40s.
Wind chill values will range from the upper 20s (northwest of I-4) to the 30s closer to Interstate 4 and Orlando.
A freeze watch has been issued for central and western Marion County beginning Wednesday at 3 a.m. until 9 a.m.
The cold blast of air keeps it cold midweek. Wednesday highs only rebound to the 50s before dipping back to the 30s and 40s that night.
Expect to be back in the low 70s with showers by Friday ahead of the next cold front arriving Friday night.