ORLANDO, Fla. — We were treated to a sun-filled Friday sky although numerous prescribed burns sent plumes of smoke across much of Central Florida.

Even with sunshine highs stayed 10 to 12 degrees below average, only topping the low to mid-60s. We’ll see a clear to partly cloudy sky overnight as a weak wrinkle in the atmosphere races by and squeezes out a few sprinkles from Lakeland to Tampa and Sarasota.

Lows overnight dip into the upper 30s in Marion County with 40s elsewhere.

Thank a cold ridge of high pressure for providing us a dry weekend ahead even though temperatures stay below average both days.

We’ll wake up with a chill in the air for runners of the BDR in downtown Orlando then slowly warm into the middle 60s under a sunny sky. A northwest wind may have a bite to it at times with gusts to around 20 mph. Another cold night is in store Saturday night with patchy frost well north and west of I-4 Sunday morning. Sunny conditions and a switch in wind helps warm us up either side of 70 area wide.

Our dry stretch takes us into Monday with highs in the upper 70s close to 80, and even Tuesday as we heat up into the low to mid-80s. An approaching cold front slows Wednesday with an increase in the late-day clouds. Ahead of the front we’ll send temps into the mid and upper 80s.

By sunset Wednesday and into the overnight hours, showers and some embedded storms roll across Central Florida. We dip into the 70s Thursday and Friday of next week.

Beach and Boating Conditions

Unfortunately for surfers, very poor surfing conditions are in the forecast both Saturday and Sunday. A minor easterly swell and wave heights of one to two, occasionally three feet will be mushed up.

We’ll have enough wave action to create a moderate rip current threat up and down our east coast.