Warmer New Year's Weekend! 

So far during the winter of 2011-12, cold snaps just don't seem to last very long. Witness this week: we went from highs a couple of days ago in the low 60s (coolest of the season) to temperatures today that were back above average (mid 70s). Granted, this morning started chilly with some 30s and patchy frost across our northwest counties, but the overall pattern is one that's a warmer-than-average one headed into the weekend. In fact, even though a new area of high pressure is building in tonight, it's a weak one. So we'll start each morning this holiday weekend with temperatures that are seasonably cool -- in the mid to low 50s. By the afternoon, with only high clouds -- and maybe a few lower ones by Sunday afternoon -- we'll warm into the upper 70s, some 4-6 degrees above average for this time of year.

Of course, this is great news if you plan to ring in 2012 outdoors at Lake Eola or anywhere else across central Florida. Midnight temps will be very comfortable -- near 60 degrees -- with mainly clear sky across central Florida. Make it a great and safe New Year's weekend!

The strongest cold front of the season will arrive early Monday morning and bring the coolest air we've felt since the middle of last January! Temperatures will start in the 60s Monday but fall throughout the day. By Tuesday, we'll be struggling to make it out of the low to mid 50s for highs with overnight lows Wednesday morning dropping into the 20s and 30s! Frost and freeze advisories will certainly be flying for the middle of next week. But again, true to form for this winter, while it stays cool throughout the week, we gradually moderate into the 60s and eventually 70s by week's end. No prolonged extra-cold air next week -- although for 24 hours or so, there will certainly be quite a chill in the air!

Brian Monahan