Florida to Stay Warm on Thanksgiving as Cold Front Brings Chill to the Rest of the U.S.

FLORIDA — While much of the United States will bundle up this Thanksgiving, Florida is expected to stay unseasonably warm, with daytime highs reaching the low to mid-80s across the southern half of the state.

According to data from SpaghettiModels.com, a strong cold front will continue to move southeast through midweek, bringing cooler air to most of the nation — but Florida’s warmth will hold on a little longer.

Meteorologists say the dividing line appears to sit along Interstate 4, with areas south of Orlando likely seeing sunny skies and highs between 80°F and 83°F, while northern Florida dips into the 70s.

Thanksgiving Temperature Divide Across the U.S.

The national temperature outlook shows a sharp contrast between the Sun Belt and the northern half of the country.

• The Midwest and Great Plains will feel the coldest air, with Thanksgiving highs only in the 20s and 30s.
• The Rocky Mountains and interior West are also expected to stay chilly, ranging from 30°F to 50°F.
• The East Coast will see highs from the 40s to mid-50s, with cooler air settling in by Friday.
• Meanwhile, the Southwest and Florida Peninsula will remain the warmest regions, holding steady in the 70s and 80s.

Meteorologists describe this setup as a classic late-November cold front, where cooler Canadian air sweeps across the central and eastern states, but Florida’s tropical influence keeps the heat lingering longer.

Warm and Humid for Florida’s Holiday Plans

The warmth means beachgoers and outdoor diners will enjoy another day of summer-like weather, especially across Miami, Fort Myers, and the Keys, where temperatures may reach 82°F to 84°F.

Humidity levels are expected to be moderate, with light southeast breezes and minimal rain chances on Thanksgiving Day.

By Friday night into Saturday, however, forecasters expect slightly cooler air to reach the northern half of the state, dropping highs into the 70s for cities like Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville.

“The front moves through the Deep South late Thanksgiving night, bringing a brief cooldown for the weekend — but it’s nothing like the last front we saw,” one forecast discussion noted.

Cooler Weekend Ahead

While Thanksgiving Day will be warm and sunny for most of Florida, cooler conditions will return over the weekend.
Highs are forecast to drop slightly into the low 70s by Saturday for central Florida, while nighttime lows could reach the upper 50s to low 60s.

Meteorologists say the holiday warmth will likely mark the final stretch of summer-like conditions before a more sustained cooldown moves in for December.

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