Volusia and Flagler counties emerged from the coldest night of this week’s lingering cold wave on Thursday, with overnight temperatures that dipped to near freezing and wind chills into the 20s.
On Thursday morning, the coldest temperatures of the season so far were reported across Volusia and Flagler.
That was the case in Daytona Beach, where the 35-degree temperature and 28-degree wind chill reading at Daytona Beach International Airport was the lowest recorded so far this winter season, said Megan Tollefsen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
“Definitely another really cold morning out there,” she said.
A graphic from the National Weather Service in Melbourne shows expected temperatures Friday morning in Central Florida.
Morning lows on Thursday were in the mid- to upper-30s across much of east Central Florida.
Those cold temperatures on Thursday morning combined with northwest winds at around 5-10 mph to produce wind chill values as low as the low 20s to low 30s. Patchy frost also was forecast in more wind-sheltered locations, mainly across the interior areas west of Interstate 4.
Both Volusia and Flagler counties were under a freeze warning through 9 a.m. Thursday.
When will it warm up in Volusia, Flagler?
“Feels like” temperatures will struggle to make it out of the 40s north and west of I-4 throughout the day on Thursday, according to the NWS forecast. Elsewhere in the area, “feels like” temperatures will be in the 50s.
A graphic from the National Weather Service shows high temperatures expected on Thursday, amid a lingering cold wave over Central Florida.
Cold temperatures are forecast once again Thursday night into Friday morning, with low temperatures in the mid-30s to lower 40s across much of Volusia and Flagler.
Wind chills are forecast in the mid- to upper-30s. Patchy frost will also be possible once again across northern Volusia County.
A strong cold front on Saturday will usher in yet another round of below normal temperatures that will persist through the remainder of the weekend and likely continue into next week, according to the NWS.
The potential exists for low temperatures below 40 degrees along and north of I-4 Sunday morning and into next week.
“We’re expecting another cooler morning on Friday,” Tollefsen said. “We’re forecasting lows ranging from 36-42 degrees. It then will warm up a bit to the mid-60s for highs on Friday, with overnight lows that are definitely a little bit warmer, into mid-50s.”
There are increasing rain chances of 30% or more on Saturday morning in Volusia-Flagler, as another cold front approaches the area, Tollefsen said. By Sunday morning, lows are expected to be in the upper 30s to low 40s, with afternoon high temperatures in the low 60s.
“That temperature forecast looks like it’ll stay pretty consistent, with highs in the lower- to mid-60s through Tuesday,” Tollefsen said. “Lows are forecast to remain in upper-30s to low-40s Monday morning into Tuesday morning, then maybe slightly cooler on Wednesday morning.”
A graphic from the National Weather Service offers tips for the safe operation of space heaters.
How low did the temperatures go in Volusia and Flagler?
Here are some Thursday overnight low temperature readings from NWS reporting stations throughout Volusia and Flagler counties.
-
In Daytona Beach, temperatures at Daytona Beach International Airport reached a low of 35, with a wind chill of 28, marking the lowest temperatures recorded so far this winter season, according to the NWS.
-
In West Volusia, the NWS doesn’t have an official reporting station in Pierson, the agricultural hub in the county’s northwestern corner, but a low temperature of 33 degrees was reported at the DeLand Municipal Airport. No wind chill reading was recorded.
-
Also in West Volusia, Lake Woodruff reported 35 degrees, with a wind chill of 32.
-
In New Smyrna Beach, a low temperature of 37 was reported with a wind chill value of 31.
-
In Ormond Beach, the low temperature reached 35, with a wind chill of 28.
-
In Flagler County, the low temperature at Flagler Executive Airport, east of Bunnell, was 34, with a wind chill value of 25.
Daytona Beach weather radar
Radar
Extended forecast for Daytona Beach
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65 and nighttime low around 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. A 30% chance of showers after 1 a.m.
Saturday: A 20% chance of showers before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64 and nighttime low around 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58 and nighttime low around 46. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. A 20% chance of showers after 1 a.m.
Monday: A 20% chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61 and nighttime low around 44. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57 and nighttime low around 40. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. North northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Extended forecast for Palm Coast
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62 and nighttime low around 57. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. A 50% chance of showers after 1 a.m.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61 and nighttime low around 45. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55 and nighttime low around 46. A 20% chance of showers after 1 a.m.
Monday: A 30% chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 58 and nighttime low around 45.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55 and nighttime low around 40.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: See freeze warning temperatures in Volusia-Flagler, weekend forecast