Cold Weather Advisory issued for Southwest Florida as temps plummet

WINK Weather Authority Meteorologists are tracking a stretch of unseasonably cold weather that Southwest Florida has not seen in over a decade. It starts with a Cold Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service for Tuesday morning from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m. This is due to wind chill values being expected to drop below 35 degrees.

Temperatures early Tuesday morning will drop into the upper 30s to low 40s across Southwest Florida. When factoring in the brisk northerly wind, temperatures will feel at least 5 to 10 degrees colder than what they actually are. Temperatures will warm up into the lower to mid-60s by Tuesday afternoon under a sunny sky.

With a long stretch of colder conditions, cold weather alerts may be needed for many of the next 7 to 10 mornings, especially for inland communities. The combination of dry air, light winds overnight, and clear skies will allow temperatures to drop efficiently each night. Areas of patchy frost are possible north and inland early Wednesday morning. It is looking likely that we see one of the longest stretches of temperatures at or below 70° since January 2010, with chilly highs forecast to remain in place through early next week.

A reinforcing blast of cold air arrives behind another cold front later this weekend. After some isolated showers on Saturday, expect another significant drop in temperatures for Sunday and Monday. That cold blast may turn out to be the coldest we have had so far this season, with widespread 30s and likely freeze warnings for northern and inland communities of Southwest Florida.

WINK News The Weather Authority Meteorologists will continue to monitor this evolving cold pattern and refine the forecast as new data comes in. Stay tuned to WINK News on-air, online, and on the WINK News app for the latest updates and any additional cold weather alerts that may be issued.