Autumn in Florida: It's that fleeting season that never stays long enough, after the swampy heat gives way to gentler temperatures and before early frosts bring winter clothes out of the back of the closet.
But it's not here yet - the crisp mornings Gainesville residents may have noticed aren't here to stay, said Phil Peterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
Peterson said lower temperatures this week were caused by a cold front that pushed through central Florida over the Labor Day weekend. Cooler, drier air moved in behind it, causing September's standard torrid mugginess to drop off.
The temperature dipped to 61 degrees Thursday morning.
The front will continue to affect Gainesville until Friday afternoon, when a 30 percent chance of rain could turn the temperature back up. Peterson said moisture will be creeping back into the area over the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures.
Temperatures will be close to 90 degrees again by the beginning of next week.
However, Peterson said, Florida is entering the time of year when cold fronts begin to come, so more short-lived cold fronts will be on the way.
Instead of killing time between classes in the Reitz Union like they normally do, friends Sarah Waickowski and Joshua Brewer parked themselves under a tree on the North Lawn on Thursday because Mother Nature hasn't been too unkind lately.
