Sarasota-Manatee is getting a dose of cooler weather. Find out when it arrives and how chilly it will get.
Forecasters watching two potential storms in the Atlantic
Meteorologists are closely tracking the chance for new tropical storms to develop in the Atlantic from Oct. 6-12.
- A cold front is expected to bring slightly cooler temperatures to Florida for the weekend.
- The brief cool-down will likely not last, with a more significant temperature drop not expected until November.
- The Sarasota-Bradenton area will see highs in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-to-high 60s over the weekend.
A cold front moving through late Friday should knock down the heat a bit for the weekend, but it won’t stick around long.
The National Weather Service predicts that the front will move across Florida on Friday, Oct. 10, bringing a chance of showers or a few storms before clearing South Florida by Saturday.
A lasting cool-down likely won’t arrive until November, thanks to the ongoing La Niña pattern that favors warmer, drier winters. Inland areas tend to stay hotter longer, but coastal spots like Sarasota-Bradenton may catch the first hints of relief.
Even though fall officially began Sept. 22, the region is still slogging through summer-like heat and humidity, with highs in the mid-80s to low 90s. Overnight lows are often the first indication of seasonal change, depending on factors such as moisture, clouds and wind.
What weather can Sarasota-Bradenton expect over the next week?
Here’s the upcoming weather from the National Weather Service.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Breezy, with a northeast wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Breezy, with a northeast wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 10%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy, with a northeast wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Breezy, with a north northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Breezy, with a north wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. North northeast wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
- Sunday night: Clear, with a low around 66.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Breezy.
- Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy.
What are the coldest recorded temperatures in Sarasota-Bradenton?
Here are the coldest dates, according to the National Weather Service:
- 1: 20 degrees; Dec. 26, 1983
- 2: 21 degrees; Feb. 4, 1917
- 3: 22 degrees; Dec. 25, 1983
- 4: 23 degrees; Jan. 13, 1981, and Jan. 29, 1940
- 5: 24 degrees; Feb. 5, 1996; Dec. 27, 1983; Jan. 21, 1971; Dec. 13, 1962; Dec. 13, 1957; Jan. 12, 1927
What’s the coldest month in Sarasota?
January is usually the coldest month of the year, with an average temperature of around 62 degrees.
Has it ever snowed in Sarasota?
Yes, it has. During a Christmas cold front on Dec. 23, 1989, snow fell in Tampa and Daytona Beach as Florida had its first white Christmas with its most widespread snowstorm in history. Snow and sleet fell as far south as Sarasota.
Melissa Pérez-Carrillo covers breaking news and public safety for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Reach out at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
