The weather is fooling many Floridians today, and it's not just a mean joke. A strong cold front has moved into the Sunshine State, producing rain and dropping temperatures by nearly twenty degrees in some places. As of Monday morning, the front was located just north of the I-4 corridor where the contrast between conditions on both sides was very evident.
Wet, cool conditions are forecast to continue across much of north and central Florida Monday. Rainfall accumulations of up to one inch are possible in the Cedar Key, Gainesville, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville areas. Temperatures in these locations will spend most of the day in the upper 50's and lower 60's, which is nearly twenty degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.
A break in the rain is in the forecast late Monday afternoon and evening, before the approach of a strong disturbance in the upper atmosphere will likely result in another round of showers and thunderstorms early Tuesday morning. This activity will not be as widespread, but a few of the thunderstorms could briefly produce small hail from the Big Bend region to the I-10 corridor in northeast Florida.
Check out the effect today's front is having in #NFla. Temperatures are MUCH cooler, along with a steady light rain falling in many areas. #flwx pic.twitter.com/DrzA9RgkZP
— Florida Storms (@FloridaStorms) April 1, 2019
On Tuesday, an area of low pressure will form off the Northeast Florida coast. As it pulls away, gusty north winds will result in rough seas and rip currents along the Atlantic coast from the Georgia line to near Jupiter. A small risk for strong thunderstorms will continue in Central Florida as the associated cold front moves through on Tuesday, but the threat appears to be lowering.
Otherwise, clearing skies, breezy conditions and slightly cooler than average temperatures will filter in behind the storm by midweek. The next chance for showers and thunderstorms will come Thursday night and Friday, mainly for the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend, and North Florida.
