ORLANDO, Fla. — After an abnormally warm February, winter is trying to hold on across Central Florida as we welcome the unofficial start to spring on Sunday with the first day of March.

Temperatures will be cold tonight with lows dipping into the upper 30s and lower 40s. There could be some areas of patchy frost by daybreak for some inland areas north of Orlando where the coldest temperatures will be, but it won’t be widespread or a huge deal by any means.

After a cold start on Sunday morning, temperatures will moderate back into the upper 60s and lower 70s for the second half of the weekend. Skies will remain bright and sunny for your Sunday plans.

You will not need the rain gear for the start of the week either. A ridge of high pressure will move to our east on Monday and Tuesday. This will allow temperatures to warm back into the middle to upper 70s by Monday and then they’ll reach the low to mid-80s by Tuesday. You may need a jacket Monday morning as temperatures will start out in the upper 40s and lower 50s. The morning temps will continue to warm by mid-week and only drop into the 60s.

Ahead of our next cold front, winds will shift out of the south and southwest. This southerly wind direction will continue to warm temperatures well above average and into the upper 80s by Wednesday afternoon. Orlando will flirt with 90 degrees on Wednesday afternoon. The record for Orlando is 88 degrees last set in 1989 for March fourth, Wednesday.

A cold front will then bring a quick end to the near record warmth Wednesday night into Thursday. This front will bring the chance for rain and a few rumbles of thunder toward daybreak on Thursday. The rain will exit by Thursday afternoon and skies will start to clear out.

Temperatures will tumble behind the front, but it won’t be as drastic as a drop in temperatures as it was this past time around. Temperatures will be in the low to mid-70s for afternoon highs for week’s end.  Morning lows will be in the low to mid-50s. Dry skies will prevail from Thursday afternoon and into next weekend.

Beach and Boating Conditions

Boating conditions will improve on Sunday with lighter winds. Seas will be running at 2 to 3 feet with a light chop on the intracoastal. The winds will be out of the north to start then shifting to the east at 5 to 10 knots.

Surfing conditions will be poor on Sunday with an elevated risk of rip currents. Wave heights will only be 1 to 2 feet. Ocean temperatures are in the middle 60s.