ORLANDO, Fla. – Temperatures soared to 90 degrees in the Orlando area Saturday, so that must mean we are done with the cool weather this season, right?
Not so fast.
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In the short term, temperatures later this week will surge back to near 90 degrees, possibly breaking more records across Central Florida.
Beyond that, however, a major pattern change is coming to the eastern two-thirds of the United States.
As the northern hemisphere welcomes spring, it will feel much more like winter. Astronomical spring begins March 19.
A large ridge of high pressure is expected to build in the west while a large dip in the jet stream will set up in the east, allowing colder air to spill from Canada into the eastern U.S.
For Florida, the coolest days will likely settle in from March 19-21. Temperatures will be 10-20 degrees below normal for the third week of March.
Average highs in the Orlando area for this time of the year are in the upper 70s, with average lows in the mid-50s.
This type of weather pattern will also promote an active storm track through the Gulf of Mexico and Florida through at least the end of the month.
As discussed on Weather Wise, this pattern change has appeared likely since late February.
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