Central Florida Braces for Chill Ahead of Halloween

ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida woke up to cooler temperatures on Friday morning as the mercury dipped 5 to 10 degrees from Thursday. Many residents found that a light jacket was a smart choice as they started their day. Afternoon temperatures are expected to warm up to the 80s.

However, a significant cold front is on the horizon. It is set to move into the region next Thursday, bringing the coolest temperatures Central Florida has experienced this season. On Halloween, morning lows could be in the 40s and 50s, while daytime highs next Friday are projected to only reach the 70s.

This front will come as a stark contrast to the recent warm weather, potentially making for a chilly Halloween night for trick-or-treaters.

Before the cold weather sets in, the weekend will remain warm and slightly humid. Highs will remain in the low to mid-80s through Sunday, with mostly sunny skies anticipated for Saturday. Breeze from the northeast will add some chill, blowing at 10 to 15 mph, with coastal gusts possibly reaching 20 to 25 mph. Beachgoers should remain cautious of high rip current risks through Sunday night.

While the weekend is expected to be mostly dry, there is a 20% chance of isolated showers early Sunday, particularly south and east of the I-4 corridor. Spotty rain may linger into Sunday afternoon, but significant precipitation is not expected.

As local weather patterns shift, meteorologists are also tracking Tropical Storm Melissa in the Caribbean. As of 5 a.m. Friday, the storm had sustained winds of 45 mph and was stationary. Melissa is anticipated to gradually strengthen, with forecasts suggesting it could reach hurricane status by Saturday afternoon, potentially peaking at winds of 75 mph. As it continues over warm waters, it may even escalate to a Category 4 hurricane by Monday morning, with predicted winds up to 145 mph.

The areas most likely to experience severe weather include Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba, where heavy rain and strong winds are expected.