Freeze Warnings issued for some FOX 51 counties

The coldest air of the season is moving over Florida, with Freeze Warnings issued for some counties in the FOX 51 viewing area.

"It will stay cold throughout the week.  Even though the skies will clear, it will never warm up much. Near freezing temperatures late in the week for pretty much all of Central Florida," said FOX 51 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Richards. 

Temperatures crept into the mid-30s in Gainesville for the first day of 2018, with Alachua, Citrus, Levy, and Putnam counties currently under a Freeze Warning.  A Hard Freeze Warning was issued for Gilchrist County.  The remaining counties are under a Wind Chill Advisory. 

"A storm center will form off our east coast and pull down cold, dry air," said FOX 35 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Richards. "We are expecting temperatures along the coastline to be a bit warmer. Mainly in the 30s, north and west of Orlando."

Orlando will experience its coldest temperatures of the season at the end of the week. "Freezing temperatures are expected around metro Orlando Thursday night and into Friday morning," Richards added. 

The possibility of light rain will continue throughout the evening over a broad section of North and Central Florida, but frozen precipitation is not expected.  Tuesday will be a mainly cloudy day.