Tornado watch in effect for some North Florida counties

<p>Colder temperatures are set to settle into the area again this week.</p><p>Forecasts, however, predict the shot of cold air will be nothing as chilling as the long-term freeze earlier this month that burned plants and sent electricity usage skyrocketing.</p><p>An 80 percent chance of rain was forecast overnight Sunday with possible isolated severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and large hail. A tornado watch was in effect Sunday evening for some North Florida counties including Dixie, Lafayette and Suwannee counties.</p><p>Temperatures then are expected to dip with lows in the mid to upper 30s during the first half of the week in the Gainesville area. A 30 percent chance of showers also is forecast for Monday.</p><p>A light freeze will be possible inland in the state early Wednesday when Gainesville could see a low of 33 degrees, according to the weather service.</p><p>Clear skies with calm winds and a cool, northerly drainage flow around a high pressure center could promote the light freeze, expected to occur west of the U.S. 301 corridor Wednesday morning, forecasts stated.</p><p>"This is pretty average for this time of year," said meteorologist Matt Zibura. "It looks like temperatures pretty close to normal."</p><p>By Thursday, temperatures should begin to rise with highs in the low 70s that day and lows overnight in the 50s, the weather service reported.</p><p>The coming weekend is expected to be a repeat of this week's forecasts with another cold front. A 40 percent chance of rain is predicted for Friday night and Saturday followed by a low of 39 degrees Saturday night and temperatures in the low 60s under sunny skies Sunday.</p><p>Earlier this month, Gainesville temperatures hit freezing 13 days in a row, Zibura said.</p><p>The average date for the last freeze in the area is Feb. 22.</p>