Florida Weather

[psyclone]

If anything the southeast ridge looks to expand its sphere of influence over the next week or so with above normal temps spreading northward toward the Carolinas...but the epicenter of warmth is focused on Florida.

[boca]

It seems like the weather pattern that Southern Florida is in is the new norm. It seems like it's a rarity just to get overnight lows down even to 60. Then I was growing up in the 70s and 80s we had frequent times of lows in the 30s and 40s at least 5 or 6 times a year down here even on the southeast coast. Now we can't even get a front to drop us into the 60 degree or lower range.

[NDG]

Yep that dreaded SE ridge looks like it will rear its ugly head again as we head into the holidays. But is should make for some nice and warm (but not hot) conditions for Florida, exactly why we we put up with the oppressing summers and why the snowbirds flock. Perhaps towards the end of December and into January, the pattern will change to allow more cold. The state has been going on I believe 7 years since the last really cold and damaging arctic blast. At some point the luck has to run out.

6 years, December 2010 is the last time central & southern FL saw a damaging freeze, the coldest December ever, will never forget it.

[Patrick99]

It seems like the weather pattern that Southern Florida is in is the new norm. It seems like it's a rarity just to get overnight lows down even to 60. Then I was growing up in the 70s and 80s we had frequent times of lows in the 30s and 40s at least 5 or 6 times a year down here even on the southeast coast. Now we can't even get a front to drop us into the 60 degree or lower range.

And now, dewpoints consistently in the 70s, too. Even in the past, when we went through periods of relative warmth in the winter, at least it was still less humid. I go out and walk around a little bit at lunch these days, and I'm absolutely drenched in sweat like it's July 12, not December 12.

[otowntiger]

Yes, I am not digging this hot winter weather. It seems to me that we are getting closer and closer to Miami weather here in Orlando. I wish we could get a freeze at least once a year to clear out all the bugs and exotic plant species that are creeping further and further north. It would be nice not to have to run the A/C on Christmas day at least. I guess I shouldn't complain though, I wouldn't like having to shovel snow and drive to work on a regular basis siding around on ice. Just would be nice to have a break from the heat every once in a while.

[otowntiger]

December vacationers looking for warmth in Florida look to hit the jackpot the next couple of weeks with above normal temps and below normal precip returning and hanging around for the foreseeable future. Works for me. Now that normal highs for central florida are down in the low 70's I find myself rooting for temps a bit above normal... 75-80 for highs with 55-60 or so for lows...is exactly why I put up with July/August..

yeah, but it when the temps and humidity approach early summer like levels its not so pleasant frankly, in my opinion. And that's what we are having: Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60's with high humidity is getting a little oppressive for winter don't ya think? I don't mind a good cool snap but they seem to be getting fewer, weaker and further apart. Uggh.

[psyclone]

December vacationers looking for warmth in Florida look to hit the jackpot the next couple of weeks with above normal temps and below normal precip returning and hanging around for the foreseeable future. Works for me. Now that normal highs for central florida are down in the low 70's I find myself rooting for temps a bit above normal... 75-80 for highs with 55-60 or so for lows...is exactly why I put up with July/August..

yeah, but it when the temps and humidity approach early summer like levels its not so pleasant frankly, in my opinion. And that's what we are having: Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60's with high humidity is getting a little oppressive for winter don't ya think? I don't mind a good cool snap but they seem to be getting fewer, weaker and further apart. Uggh.

I

The feel is nowhere close to Summer levels. Even when it gets a bit more humid the low sun angle/short days make a world of difference (this is even noticeable when comparing late Sept/early Oct to July for me). I can guarantee the Yanks down here are loving it..especially when they see all the snow in Chicago and Cleveland right now. I'd be extremely unhappy if I were a northerner that spent boatloads of money to vacation down here and it was stupid cold. It is a gamble in central Florida...with south Florida being a much safer bet. Plus we in central Florida will get fringed by cooler air late week with highs in the low 70's and lows in the 50's. I won't be complaining about 80 degree weather, ever. Especially when it's going to be 12 or so in Cleveland by (for the high) by Thursday. Evidently I've not lived in Florida long enough to take the warmth for granted. While I understand a desire for chilly weather this time of year (I like the hoodie/sweatshirt weather too) it's tough to argue with sun and shorts weather in December...much of the rest of the country spends big bucks just for a shot at it while many natives here don't like it. I guess the grass is always greener.

[TheStormExpert]

It seems like the weather pattern that Southern Florida is in is the new norm. It seems like it's a rarity just to get overnight lows down even to 60. Then I was growing up in the 70s and 80s we had frequent times of lows in the 30s and 40s at least 5 or 6 times a year down here even on the southeast coast. Now we can't even get a front to drop us into the 60 degree or lower range.

And now, dewpoints consistently in the 70s, too. Even in the past, when we went through periods of relative warmth in the winter, at least it was still less humid. I go out and walk around a little bit at lunch these days, and I'm absolutely drenched in sweat like it's July 12, not December 12.

Totally agree and understand, is it too much to ask to be able to open up the doors and windows and give our poor A/C's a break that run basically 24/7 365 days a year it seems these days!?

[otowntiger]

December vacationers looking for warmth in Florida look to hit the jackpot the next couple of weeks with above normal temps and below normal precip returning and hanging around for the foreseeable future. Works for me. Now that normal highs for central florida are down in the low 70's I find myself rooting for temps a bit above normal... 75-80 for highs with 55-60 or so for lows...is exactly why I put up with July/August..

yeah, but it when the temps and humidity approach early summer like levels its not so pleasant frankly, in my opinion. And that's what we are having: Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60's with high humidity is getting a little oppressive for winter don't ya think? I don't mind a good cool snap but they seem to be getting fewer, weaker and further apart. Uggh.

I

The feel is nowhere close to Summer levels. Even when it gets a bit more humid the low sun angle/short days make a world of difference (this is even noticeable when comparing late Sept/early Oct to July for me). I can guarantee the Yanks down here are loving it..especially when they see all the snow in Chicago and Cleveland right now. I'd be extremely unhappy if I were a northerner that spent boatloads of money to vacation down here and it was stupid cold. It is a gamble in central Florida...with south Florida being a much safer bet. Plus we in central Florida will get fringed by cooler air late week with highs in the low 70's and lows in the 50's. I won't be complaining about 80 degree weather, ever. Especially when it's going to be 12 or so in Cleveland by (for the high) by Thursday. Evidently I've not lived in Florida long enough to take the warmth for granted. While I understand a desire for chilly weather this time of year (I like the hoodie/sweatshirt weather too) it's tough to argue with sun and shorts weather in December...much of the rest of the country spends big bucks just for a shot at it while many natives here don't like it. I guess the grass is always greener.

Yeah, well its all a matter of perspective I guess. I shouldn't be complaining, really because I wouldn't want to have to shovel snow and drive/walk around on slippery ice for sure, but I've been here since '88 and I guess I do take the warm/hot weather for granted. I moved here from Louisiana and have never had to fight a dreadful winter so my perspective about it different (and maybe out of whack) but I do like a good cold snap to rid us of exotic invasive plants and unwanted insect life. So yes, I shouldn't complain, but I will, just like those who complain when it does (albeit very rarely) get good and cold here. And for what its worth I don't think there are too many people who are going to say 85 degrees with 90% humidity is comfortable regardless of sun angle.

[otowntiger]

It seems like the weather pattern that Southern Florida is in is the new norm. It seems like it's a rarity just to get overnight lows down even to 60. Then I was growing up in the 70s and 80s we had frequent times of lows in the 30s and 40s at least 5 or 6 times a year down here even on the southeast coast. Now we can't even get a front to drop us into the 60 degree or lower range.

And now, dewpoints consistently in the 70s, too. Even in the past, when we went through periods of relative warmth in the winter, at least it was still less humid. I go out and walk around a little bit at lunch these days, and I'm absolutely drenched in sweat like it's July 12, not December 12.

Totally agree and understand, is it too much to ask to be able to open up the doors and windows and give our poor A/C's a break that run basically 24/7 365 days a year it seems these days!?

Yep, that's all I'm saying. There is nothing wrong with wanting a freshening even chilly north wind this time of year, at least for a little while every now and then.

[Patrick99]

Exactly. All I really want out of our winter is a cold front to knock the overnight temps down to around the low 50s for a couple nights, followed by a mild warmup, followed by another similar front 5-7 days later. We used to get in little patterns like that from late November - mid February....some slightly longer periods of warmth and some slightly colder nights, but in general, a "decent" cold front every 5-10 days, that would be ideal.

I know this weather isn't quite like July, with the sun angle, shorter days and everything....but it's a bit too analog to me.

[psyclone]

Great points as usual. the good news is we're still in the early stages of the "cold" season so we've got time for some chilly weather and with it being colder up north this year as compared to last...I'd be shocked if we don't get some cooldowns over the next couple of months. I'm all for that I just don't want freezes. As always watching the weather is just a delight for me. Let's see what happens. I also get free air conditioning from the cold shelf waters of the Gulf which are always chilly, even in mild winters...so I guess i'm a bit spoiled in that regard as compared to inland areas like Orlando or the folks down in south Florida.

[NDG]

Incredible ridge by early next week across our area forecasted by the Euro & somewhat by the GFS. We shouldn't be surprised, neutral to negative PNA & +AO favors ridging overall across our area.

[otowntiger]

Incredible ridge by early next week across our area forecasted by the Euro & somewhat by the GFS. We shouldn't be surprised, neutral to negative PNA & +AO favors ridging overall across our area.

That is not encouraging for drought plagued areas and for people who want cold (cooler) weather any time soon.

[northjaxpro]

Yeah that ridge is extremely large for this time of year. This is ridiculous. We could be warm for several weeks here in the peninsula with a ridge like that being forecast by the models. Bad news for sure for cold weather lovers.

[gatorcane]

The 12Z ECMWF has the same strong ridge...

[psyclone]

The CPC seems to validate the strong ridge depictions with above normal temps for both the 6-10 and 8-14 day time frames...the latter of which now includes Christmas so the odds of another Corona Christmas seem to be increasing.

[otowntiger]

Yeah that ridge is extremely large for this time of year. This is ridiculous. We could be warm for several weeks here in the peninsula with a ridge like that being forecast by the models. Bad news for sure for cold weather lovers.

Agreed. Ridiculous. Really looking like a summer time pattern, without the cooling and beneficial rains. Wow. Two measly days of sub 80's and one night of sub 60's and the rest are stiflingly hot and humid. Oh, well might as well go to the beach for Christmas.

[Patrick99]

Wow. That ridge makes me think I'm looking at a weather map for late March/April. "Corona Christmas," I like that term....we've had a lot of them lately.

[Macrocane]

I get your feelings guys!
Same ridge is blocking cold fronts to reach Central America en western Caribbean.
Maximum temperaturas have been ner average but because of the unseasonably cloudiness and rainfall we've had, the minimum temperatures have been well above average though.