Forecast: Chilly spring break week for many in Florida

TAMPA (FOX 13) - It’s all downhill from here: The temperature will continue to drop today as a cold front moves through, leading to the first of several cold evenings.

This morning’s scattered showers ahead of the front are now tapering off, and winds will begin shifting out of the northeast, blowing cooler, drier air into the Sunshine State.  Lows tonight will be in the upper 40s around the immediate Tampa Bay area, with lower temps likely to the north and east.

Despite more sunshine, temperatures for the next few days will struggle to make it out of the 60s, with overnight lows dipping back into the 40s each night.

"It's like all of those February cold fronts that we didn't get? Now they're making their way through," FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg offered.

The breezy weather will also make for poor boating weather.  The National Weather Service warned of rip currents at the beaches and rough seas.

"We've got lake wind advisories, we've got a small craft advisory, we've got high surf advisories. It's like a trifecta of 'do not go boating today,'" Osterberg continued.

Seasonable Florida weather will return in a big way on Saturday, though, when temperatures jump back into the upper 70s.  Long-range forecasts suggest next week will be warmer than average.

LINK: Tampa Bay weathercast