Freezing temps expected Wednesday, Thursday mornings

After a Canadian cold front sent temperatures to the freezing mark in both Ocala and Gainesville early Monday, forecasters say the area should look out for a second blast and the season's coldest weather so far.

National Weather Service forecasters said a second frigid wave is expected to begin blasting through the state late Tuesday, sending temperatures to freezing - or below - on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Forecasters said they expect Wednesday morning's low temperature to hit 30 degrees in both Marion and Alachua counties, with some areas dipping into the upper-20s.

Highs are expected to hit only about 60 degrees Wednesday afternoon, and both areas should see Thursday morning's low to dip to near freezing again.

"We are predicting Thursday's low to hit 32 degrees in Gainesville and 33 in Ocala," said Phil Peterson, a weather service meteorologist in Jacksonville.

A reinforcing cold front expected to move into the North Florida area on Tuesday will be followed by lighter winds and mostly clear skies. All are factors that should help drop temperatures.

The low temperatures reported Monday morning didn't break the 1940 record of 26 degrees in Gainesville, weather service meteorologist Jason Hess said.

And the 32-degree low at the Ocala International Airport narrowly missed the record for Nov. 17. The Ocala record of 30 degrees was set just last year, Peterson said.

Temperatures overnight Tuesday and Wednesday could make it into the record book for Gainesville. The record for Nov. 19 was 31 degrees set in 1951 and for Nov. 20 it was 30 degrees set in 1968.

Temperatures aren't predicted to get above 60 degrees in Gainesville and Ocala until Thursday afternoon, when highs are expected to hit 68 degrees in both counties.

That's when a warming trend will begin, sending temperatures back to normal. After Friday morning's low hits the mid-40s on Friday, highs are expected to climb to 70 degrees.

By Saturday, the day Florida Gators host Citadel, the morning lows will dip to the upper-40s and highs again will be about 70 degrees.