Executive Summary
- A cold front is moving through Central Florida, bringing cloud cover and isolated showers on Thanksgiving.
- Wind gusts are expected to increase to 25 mph in Orlando and 30 mph near the coast by Friday.
- Overnight temperatures will drop into the 40s for early Black Friday morning.
- Temperatures are forecast to rebound quickly, reaching the 80s by Sunday.
Central Florida residents are experiencing increased cloud cover and shifting weather patterns on Thanksgiving morning as a cold front moves through the region. The system is expected to bring cooler temperatures and significant wind gusts, altering conditions for the start of the holiday weekend.
According to WFTV meteorologist Daniel McFarland, the cold front is responsible for the overcast skies observed across the area on Thursday. While the system may generate a few isolated showers throughout the day, meteorologists do not anticipate heavy rainfall. The immediate impact is primarily visual, with cloud coverage dominating the morning sky.
As the front progresses, wind speeds are projected to intensify. Forecasts indicate that wind gusts will reach 15 to 20 mph on Thursday afternoon. By Friday, these conditions are expected to escalate, with gusts potentially hitting 25 mph in the Orlando area and up to 30 mph near the coast. This increase in wind velocity coincides with the busiest shopping day of the year.
The cold front will also drive a sharp decline in overnight temperatures. Following several weeks of lows consistently in the upper 50s and 60s, temperatures are predicted to drop into the 40s by early Black Friday morning. However, this cooling trend is expected to be brief; forecasts show temperatures rebounding quickly, reaching the 80s by Sunday with overnight lows returning to the 60s.
Meteorological Outlook
The passage of this cold front marks a distinct, though temporary, deviation in the regional atmospheric pattern, disrupting the recent trend of mild overnight lows. The primary operational implication for the region lies in the escalating wind speeds anticipated for Friday, which may pose minor challenges for outdoor activities and coastal navigation. Furthermore, the rapid fluctuation in temperatures—dropping to the 40s before surging back to the 80s within 48 hours—highlights the volatility of transitional weather systems affecting the Florida peninsula during the late autumn season.
