Plenty of sunshine, but colder weather is on way

A Canadian cold front that dropped temperatures to the freezing mark early Monday was just a preview of chillier weather to come, forecasters say.

A second frigid wave is expected to begin blasting through the state late today, sending temperatures plummeting again in Alachua and Marion counties Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Forecasters say they expect Wednesday morning's low temperature to hit 30 degrees in the region, with some areas dipping into the upper 20s.

Highs are expected to reach only about 60 degrees Wednesday afternoon, forecasters say. Both counties should see Thursday morning lows near freezing again.

"We are predicting Thursday's low to hit 32 degrees in Gainesville and 33 in Ocala," said Phil Peterson, a National 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 keep temperatures low.

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

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 today 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 rise above 60 degrees in Gainesville and Ocala until Thursday, when highs are expected to hit the mid-60s 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, highs are expected to climb to 70 degrees in both areas.

By Saturday, the morning lows will drop into the upper 40s and afternoon highs will be about 70 degrees.