Florida Weather

[JonathanBelles]

The ice cream truck just went by.

[Opal storm]

Been overcast here all day and we haven't even reached 55 degrees yet. Finally feels like winter.

[Cyclone1]

Same here...

I remember the local weather saying "Oh there's this front in Texas right now, it doesn't look very potent if it arrives on Saturday you wont even notice it, sunny and warm forever kthnx bye."

It hasn't reached 63 all day. Overcast, windy... definitely feeling the front...

Hmm...

[JonathanBelles]

this isnt the front, this is a plume of moisture coming from our east.

[Cyclone1]

Oh... well in any case... I was led to believe it was going to be sunny, and it wasn't. Not like I'm complaining.

[Opal storm]

Oh... well in any case... I was led to believe it was going to be sunny, and it wasn't. Not like I'm complaining.

Meteorologist in english means liar.

[jinftl]

Beautiful day on Saturday....but temps weren't anything except normal to still above normal here in south florida....

AINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1005 AM EST SUN DEC 23 2007

...HIGHEST TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY...LOWEST LAST 12 HOURS...

AIRPORT OBSERVATIONS HIGH LOW
FORT LAUDERDALE INTL 80 69
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL 80 66
WEST PALM BEACH 76 66

[JonathanBelles]

last night visibility was under a quarter of a mile and the ceiling was under 30ft.

[MiamiensisWx]

Beautiful day on Saturday....but temps weren't anything except normal to still above normal here in south florida....

AINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1005 AM EST SUN DEC 23 2007

...HIGHEST TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY...LOWEST LAST 12 HOURS...

AIRPORT OBSERVATIONS HIGH LOW
FORT LAUDERDALE INTL 80 69
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL 80 66
WEST PALM BEACH 76 66

Why do you believe this is a consistent annual trend in recent years? Do you think the urban heat island may have influenced overnight lows, thus resulting in above normal temperatures? This has been mentioned in another thread, but I have noticed some decadal changes in the USDA hardiness zones, especially along the east and west coasts of FL. I recently observed a 3-4' coconut palm growing outside in New Smyrna Beach, FL (closer to Jacksonville than Miami) during August without any protection. The Tampa area is much more tropical (vegetatively) than previous decades, largely because of the heat island. Regardless, I think some climatological changes could be influencing the northward migration of plant hardiness zones.

There are other factors that dictate vegetation, including soil content, pH, and climatological precipitation, so there are some complexities that should be taken into accounts. Additionally, some historical decades may have been similar to our current period, so it is hard to pinpoint the "authenticity" of the current warming trend, whether it reflects global warming or local regional changes.

Although this is south Florida, I can't remember too many long-lasting cold events during 2003-2007 vs. the 1990s and previous decades. It could be an illusion, but it seems like the SE ridge has been more persistent in recent winters. The 1970s were a polar opposite of recent years. Note that the 1970s featured widespread cold in the Deep South during several winters. There was the notable January 1977 snow event in south Florida, too.

There are historical accounts that suggest the Saint Johns River (NE and central FL) regularly froze during winters in the 1800s, so there has definitely been some climatological changes in the Sunshine State over subsequent decades.

[Patrick99]

Oh, I definitely consider the past 10-15 years to have been much warmer than I remember it growing up. If you notice, even when cold air makes it down here, it is ever more short-lived. The wind slides NE over the Gulf Stream and obliterates it with a quickness.

Especially since the mid-90s, our winters seem to become ever more pathetic with each passing year. I think 2003 was the worst, though....I remember temps in the mid-80s for half of February, and most of March with temps around 90, and super-dry. That was crazy.

Miami AFD seems pretty sure of above-normal temps through next weekend. They even mention a retrograding remnant surface low from E of the Bahamas tomorrow night into Christmas, 30% chance of rain. Is this December, or July?

[jinftl]

From 1990 to 2006 there have been changes for sure to many plant hardiness zones...with almost all the changes being towards an increase in a zone (warmer tolerance)


http://www.arborday.org/media/map_change.cfm

[JonathanBelles]

I just went to Winn-Dixie with shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops...on Christmas eve......something wrong with that picture?

[feederband]

From 1990 to 2006 there have been changes for sure to many plant hardiness zones...with almost all the changes being towards an increase in a zone (warmer tolerance)


http://www.arborday.org/media/map_change.cfm

Only had to cover the plants one time this season......

[feederband]

I just went to Winn-Dixie with shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops...on Christmas eve......something wrong with that picture?

75 and all is fine......

[Patrick99]

NWS is starting to mention the idea of a strong cold front coming through S. FL around New Years - still uncertain, of course.

Christmas Day, Miami - very, very humid with intermittent showers. Nice and tropical...I like it.

[JonathanBelles]

I hope it will hold off or come early, I have a vacation planned those days.

[Opal storm]

No joke...I went outside early this morning (6am) to go get a newspaper and some donuts and it was sleeting! Very lightly though, but i could see the ice pellets bouncing off my windshield. Pretty neat, a Florida's white christmas.

[JonathanBelles]

Y'all need to share

[Cyclone1]

Y'all need to share

Or at least shut up about it already...

I live too far south... stupid geography of Polk...

[Cookiely]

Cold! Oh yeah I remember cold when I was a child we wore faux rabbit fur coats at Easter. I think I wore a heavy coat maybe five times in the last ten years. I refuse to buy them new since I hardly ever get to wear them. I purchased a nice one at the Salvation Army five years ago and have worn it twice. A friend gave me a beautiful Tampabay Bucs coat for Christmas two years ago and I've worn it only a couple of times. I almost turned on the AC today but a Christmas tree and the AC just doesn't seem right.