ORLANDO, Fla. – After a dry spell, rain has finally made a welcome return to Central Florida. On Saturday night, radar imagery revealed a colorful tapestry of greens, yellows, and even some reds, moving steadily from west to east.

Earlier in the evening, light rain showers passed over the Orlando metro area and nearby attractions but have since dissipated as the night progressed.

The main weather front remains north of the region but is gradually moving southward. It is expected to stay through the night, likely clearing the area by around 2 to 3 a.m.

Until the front fully passes, winds will continue to be quite gusty from the southwest, carrying warmer and moisture-laden air ahead of the storm system.

In terms of cooler temperatures trailing the front, the impact is minimal. Observations of wind patterns across Florida show that the front is already slowing down or stalling over northern parts of the state.

Now, it will come down and through us overnight tonight, making way for a pretty solid Sunday.

Your Sunday is looking phenomenal once we can get that front to move off the east coast of Florida very early morning. Highs will sit somewhere around the average for this time of year, coming in at roughly 72-73 degrees with lots of sunshine once the clouds can clear.

But these pleasant conditions won’t stick around long, nor will the rainfall which raises my concern for strengthening drought conditions throughout the area.

By Monday temperatures are already reaching 4-6 degrees above normal, and only climbing further from here.

A dominant subtropical ridge is forecast to take command of the weather pattern over Florida, and essentially the eastern half of the United States altogether.

Once it does, we’ll all be sitting in above average temperature territory, and higher pressure down towards the surface will ensure no moisture or rainfall works its way in as relief.

Moving towards the mid sections of January, the heat may linger as well. It seems like our next chance at a cooldown or beneficial rainfall comes at about the end of the upcoming 10-12 day period.

Your key takeaway from that? Things are likely to change, and continue evolving as we move through time, especially in terms of what our computer models are showing.

So for the time being, take full advantage of a beautiful Sunday in store for all of us coming right up next.

As the kids go back to school, and the holiday festivities fully come to a close, it looks like winter is going dormant on Floridians as well.