Our February “heat wave” continues for the rest of the work week as high pressure at the surface and aloft continues to be in control of our weather. Changes are in store for the weekend, though.

Today: Warm, partly cloudy

This morning we find high pressure centered roughly near Jacksonville, FL. This will keep our weather calm for another day. West to southwest winds around the periphery of the high will help temperatures away from the coast head up to near 80°. The record high for today is 77°, and unless high clouds are thicker than expected, I see no reason why we don’t get there.

Patches of sea fog are possible near the coast with such warm air atop cool shelf waters. Despite overall westerly flow, if the seabreeze sneaks ashore a bit, this will allow fog to reach the beaches. Be ready for some periodic disruptions in visibility as a result.

Next front arrives Friday with a cooldown for the weekend

Our run of near-record temperatures looks to continue through Friday ahead of our next cold front. This frontal passage looks to stay dry as moisture looks only deep enough to generate some enhanced cloud cover as the front passes.

Behind the front, high pressure will wedge down into our neck of the woods starting Saturday. As a result, temperatures look to plunge considerably from Friday, with highs topping out only in the mid-50s, which is several degrees *below* normal.

Cloud cover increases on Sunday as winds aloft start bringing more moisture atop the wedge, with a small chance of showers entering the forecast by Sunday evening.

Unsettled but still warmer than normal to start next week

Weather turns a little more unsettled as we get into Monday and Tuesday as the subtropical ridge of high pressure is suppressed southward, allowing a frontal boundary to stall out near the coast. This will help generate periods of showers. Southerly winds will reassert themselves, allowing temperatures to rise back into the upper 60s for Monday and up to 70 on Tuesday despite the presence of clouds and rain.