Executive Summary
- Temperatures in Central Florida dropped to 38 degrees in Ocala and the 40s elsewhere on Black Friday.
- Wind chills made conditions feel approximately five degrees colder due to 10-20 mph gusts.
- A rapid warm-up is forecast for the weekend, with temperatures reaching 80 degrees by Sunday.
- Widespread rain is expected early next week due to a low-pressure system from the Gulf.
Central Florida experienced a sharp drop in temperatures on Black Friday morning, with readings falling into the 30s and 40s across the region, according to local meteorological reports. The cold snap, driven by a high-pressure system, brought the coldest air of the season thus far to many inland and northern communities.
WESH 2 Meteorologist Cam Tran reported that Ocala recorded a morning low of 38 degrees, while Palm Coast registered 43 degrees and The Villages dropped to 46 degrees. Meteorological data indicates that gusty winds from the north-northwest, ranging between 10 and 20 mph, created wind chill values approximately five degrees lower than the recorded air temperatures. Despite clear, sunny skies, daytime highs are projected to remain unseasonably cool, with Palm Coast reaching only 60 degrees and Kissimmee peaking at 64 degrees.
Forecasts indicate that this blast of cold air will be transient. Temperatures are expected to plummet again Friday night—dropping to 41 in Ocala and 50 in Orlando—but a warming trend is predicted to begin immediately thereafter. By Saturday afternoon, highs are expected to return to the low 70s, reaching 80 degrees by Sunday, accompanied by a 20% chance of rain.
Looking further ahead, meteorologists are tracking an area of low pressure developing along a frontal boundary in the Gulf of Mexico. This system is expected to introduce widespread rain to the region by Monday and Tuesday of the upcoming week.
Meteorological Outlook
The current weather pattern illustrates a classic, albeit brief, intrusion of continental polar air into the Florida peninsula. While the immediate impact requires residents to mitigate against wind chill and potential frost in northern sectors, the rapid air mass modification predicted for the weekend highlights the volatility of the transition season. The shift from high-pressure dominance to a Gulf-based low-pressure system early next week suggests a quick return to active, wet conditions following the dry cold snap.
