ORLANDO, Fla. – On Sunday, we were watching closely as severe weather, including the potential for occasional tornado-producing storms, rolled across Central Florida.
During the day on Monday, we should anticipate much of the same, except much less in terms of who receives any of the really nasty stuff.
What’s causing all this weather ruckus?
A combo of an approaching frontal system, driving even more widespread dangerous weather for our neighbors up north, alongside a ridge of high pressure pumping a continuous slew of warm, moist air across the peninsula.
Because of all this built-up heat and quality moisture in the air, our trademark sea breeze has made its return! If you’re new to Central Florida, a crash course on the sea breeze simply means the temperature difference between where we are inland and the waters that surround the peninsula. During the day, the land heats much quicker than the water, creating weak and very localized low pressure.
Wind always wants to flow from higher pressure to lower pressure, so this results in winds coming in from off the coast. Hence the name “sea breeze”. Because we have relatively “cooler” winds moving inland, this creates lift. It’s like a very miniature cool front on either side of our state. When they collide, things can get wild near Orlando and the Interstate 4 corridor.
Then with the influence of our system in the highest levels of the atmosphere, these sea breeze thunderstorms can try to spin on a moment’s notice. This is why we had two tornado warning storms on Sunday, both of which were very capable of producing funnels.
Right after this severe threat dwindles, Florida finds itself under an even more dominant high pressure. This will cause sinking air to overtake our area, but the temps will go up as the high spins in even more tropical warmth from the south.
For the first time this year, the Orlando metro area could see 90 degrees on the thermometer come Wednesday and the rest of the week.
So if you’re ready for legitimate pool, water park, and beach weather, it’s coming in HOT! (Pun very much so intended).
Now, looking ahead, with all things weather, “What goes up, has to come down”.
What does this mean? Believe it or not, we’re forecasting a cooler-than-average period of mid-April! When extreme warmth builds, something has to give. In this case, this allows a build-up of cooler air to finally come crashing south and bring us back into almost wintry/fall conditions for a time.
Climate Prediction Center has us painted in below-average temperatures for the middle of the month. But then, shortly thereafter, we’re very likely to rebound once more. This time of the year just can’t quite support cool temperatures for us in Florida. Good news for some, not so good for those of us not looking forward to the extensive summer likely in store.
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