ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Central Florida is experiencing a chilly St. Patrick\u2019s week, with News 6 meteorologist Julie Broughton reporting the region may tie long-standing record cool high temperatures. Tuesday\u2019s high in Orlando and Sanford is forecast at 61 degrees, while Daytona Beach could see only 59 degrees at its peak. If those numbers hold, both Orlando and Sanford would tie their record cool highs set in 1901, and Daytona Beach would match its record set in 1962.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may even set new record cool highs,\u201d Broughton noted, underlining just how rare this mid-March chill is for Central Florida.<\/p>\n
Trough brings unseasonably cold air to the SoutheastRecord cool highs possible today (Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando-All rights reserved)<\/p>\n
Broughton explained that a major weather system\u2014a trough\u2014has dipped across much of the United States, helping a mass of cold air surge southward over the central and eastern U.S. This has driven temperatures across the area well below average, putting much of Florida in the same chilly boat as the rest of the eastern states.<\/p>\n
This unusual temperature dip follows a strong cold front that moved through the area on Monday, which brought strong to severe storms to Central Florida.<\/p>\n
Forecast: Cold nights and gradual warm-up ahead<\/p>\n
The chill isn\u2019t just for the daytime. Overnight lows are expected to dip into the 30s and 40s, with Ocala forecast to fall to 34 degrees and Orlando likely to reach as low as 45 degrees. Sanford could see a low of 41 degrees, while Daytona Beach and Leesburg are expected to drop to 46 degrees and 42 degrees, respectively.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, our forecasts suggest temperatures will gradually rise by the end of the week, with afternoon highs expected back in the 80s for the weekend. For now, those cool highs could have you searching for a jacket before heading out the door.<\/p>\n