WDW Weather Forecast - December 31, 2012 - Jan 16, 2013

[Strmchsr]

I'll update this first post each day with the forecast (though I'll occasionally miss a day), both long and short term. As a general rule, up to 7 days is a pretty accurate forecast, beyond that it's educated guessing and largely dependent upon how well the models are doing at that moment, which is why I call it "voodooland." If you have any specific weather questions or comments, even if it's for an area other than WDW, please post and I'll answer throughout the thread. I'll also post weather tidbits every so often. If you want to see the exact conditions for your travel dates over the last few years, go to our historic weather page in Info Central here. Without further delay, let's get to the forecast:

Weather at WDW - Update Monday pm, December 31, 2012
Much warmer today with enough sun to push the high to 73. New Year's Day should be very nice with a high 75-77. A front is pushing south and will stall over northern Florida tomorrow night. The question becomes when does the rain make it to Orlando. There is some disagreement among the models about this. Right now it looks like Wednesday should be mostly dry with maybe a very slight chance of a brief isolated shower and a high 76-78. Thursday will be similar at 76-78. Showers and thunderstorms should begin to move in late in the afternoon and then rain will be a threat until Friday morning. Friday should have a high 73-75. Saturday through Monday looks dry with a high 70-72 on Saturday and then around 75 for Sunday and Monday.

Long range...Jan 8-12 looks dry with highs mostly in the mid 70s. Jan 13 a front brings some rain, but today it doesn't look too strong. The high will be near 70. Jan 14-16 stays dry with highs in the low to mid 70s.

Travel Impact
No big delays today or tomorrow.

Any of you who are nervous about flying, especially related to turbulence, go here and here to learn a lot about turbulence. Those two articles should be very helpful in allowing you to understand turbulence and flight safety when it hits. Hopefully all of this will help you relax and enjoy the trip to WDW more!

[steamboat willy]

Our dates are in the long range 9 - 19 and weather looks still good. Our MVMCP is on the 13th so I hope the weather remains clear on this evening. Still looks like our packing needs to be a combo of shorts and jeans, T- shirts and long, light jacket and pack the rain gear just in case. That sound right?

6 Days...

[Strmchsr]

That sounds about right for everything I'm seeing now. Very comfortable during the days and probably needing a light jacket or long-sleeve shirt after sunset.

[TinkerbellT421]

A good chance of rain arrives on Dec 12.

That's our christmas party date!

[Strmchsr]

That's our christmas party date!

No worries just yet. It's still voodooland which always changes.

[TinkerbellT421]

No worries just yet. It's still voodooland which always changes.

I'm hoping

[mouseketeer mom]

Oh come on. Make it warm Christmas week, puh'lease???? I'm coming from NJ!! And I'm already crazy overpacked.

[Dulcee]

We have tickets to the Christmas party on the 13th too. Stay away rain!!

[Catzle]

Coming from New York for the party on the 13th and leaving on the 16th. Would love, love, love temps in the 80's. Would love to swim until the party starts!

[lawgirl]

Oh no! So do we need to pack our ponchos for Sunday night?

[Strmchsr]

Oh no! So do we need to pack our ponchos for Sunday night?

I don't think so for Sunday night. Still trying to gauge how much rain might fall out of this approaching cold front Tuesday/Wednesday. The front moves in and could bring light scattered showers on Tuesday but then as it moves back north on Wednesday it looks more likely that a thunderstorm or two could form.

[Catzle]

So the 13th-16th, looks chilly and possibly rainy? Need to know what clothes to pack. UGH, was planning to swim. We were there in June for 11 days, rained 7 straight days, was hoping things would be different for our trip this time.

[Strmchsr]

So the 13th-16th, looks chilly and possibly rainy? Need to know what clothes to pack. UGH, was planning to swim. We were there in June for 11 days, rained 7 straight days, was hoping things would be different for our trip this time.

I'll give you a full update around noon CST today. On this morning's models the system has sped up. It looks like Wednesday will be rainy, but the 13th-16th should be mostly clear. Possibly a couple of light, spotty showers on the 13th, but nothing major. Also, it won't be really chilly. Upper 70s for highs. Lows in the low 50s so it'll be a little chilly at night, but that's to be expected in December. We'll see what the afternoon models show.

[Catzle]

Thanks!

[Catzle]

Ugh! Every day I look it get colder and colder .
Sunday is the best day, the day we fly out. Not sure we will be doing any swimming.

[babsmom]

We will be there the 15-21 with our MVMCP being the 18th ... sounds like we should bring ponchos for that!

[cuteduck223]

i love this forecast so much! (even more when i have a trip that falls within the dates).

[dwdart]

We get there on 2nd. I'm not going to like 30's.
I'm use to wearing shorts during our winter months.
I'll hope for lots of SUN!!!

[Strmchsr]

Keep in mind Jan 2 is at the far end of voodooland. Anything beyond 7 days I'm not forecast, just reporting model data. 8-9 days ago models showed Christmas Eve and Day as being very cold, now that we're closer they'll be seasonal and not too cold at all. While it's possible, shorts in Jan at WDW may be hoping for a little much. It's not that warm of a winter. Long pants and short sleeves during the day with a light jacket at night is closer to probable.

[cer]

I know it is voodoo land still, but am I reading that right? Low's in the mid 70's Jan 10-11?

Running the marathon on the 13th so I am particularly interested in Sunday. I know, still very much voodoo land, but getting excited seeing my dates coming closer.....