ORLANDO, Fla. – After a dry spell, residents in the area are welcoming the rain with open arms. This Saturday evening, radar images are alive with vibrant greens, yellows, and even some reds, indicating precipitation moving from west to east.

Earlier, light showers made their way through Orlando’s metro region, including popular attractions and nearby communities. However, these showers have since dissipated as the night progresses.

The primary weather front remains north of the area but is gradually advancing as you read this. It is expected to linger until after midnight, finally heading southeast between 2 and 3 a.m.

Until this front passes, expect gusty southwest winds as warm, humid air continues to flow in ahead of the approaching storm.

The cooler air trailing the front is minimal at best. Observations of the wind patterns across the state suggest a potential slowdown or stalling over northern Florida.

As the front moves through overnight, it will pave the way for a promising and pleasant Sunday.

Your Sunday is looking phenomenal once we can get that front to move off the east coast of Florida very early morning. Highs will sit somewhere around the average for this time of year, coming in at roughly 72-73 degrees with lots of sunshine once the clouds can clear.

But these pleasant conditions won’t stick around long, nor will the rainfall which raises my concern for strengthening drought conditions throughout the area.

By Monday temperatures are already reaching 4-6 degrees above normal, and only climbing further from here.

A dominant subtropical ridge is forecast to take command of the weather pattern over Florida, and essentially the eastern half of the United States altogether.

Once it does, we’ll all be sitting in above average temperature territory, and higher pressure down towards the surface will ensure no moisture or rainfall works its way in as relief.

Moving towards the mid sections of January, the heat may linger as well. It seems like our next chance at a cooldown or beneficial rainfall comes at about the end of the upcoming 10-12 day period.

Your key takeaway from that? Things are likely to change, and continue evolving as we move through time, especially in terms of what our computer models are showing.

So for the time being, take full advantage of a beautiful Sunday in store for all of us coming right up next.

As the kids go back to school, and the holiday festivities fully come to a close, it looks like winter is going dormant on Floridians as well.