Stratocumulus Clouds Loop Outline The Florida Peninsula

Stratocumulus Clouds Satellite Loop -

Impressive stratocumulus clouds outline the Southeastern Florida peninsula, as cold air advection blasts cool air southward over the state. I always find it fascinating when these cold fronts blast cold air into Florida and over the warmer waters of the western Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico. You get these perfect cold air stratocumulus cloud structures like the one seen in this Visible satellite loop from January 31, 2009. The clouds are almost perfectly outlining the eastern and southeastern coast of Florida as the colder air off the mainland comes off the coast from the north-northwest. It’s also impressive looking when at the coast on the beach looking east. You see these clear skies above you with a well defined cloud boundary to the east marking the warmer waters. Pretty interesting indeed!

Tomorrow when the winds begin to veer to the east, these clouds will move onshore and cloud things up for many on Super Bowl Sunday. This will only be short-lived as the temperatures will also begin to rebound ahead of the next potent storm system forecast for the eastern United States on Monday and Tuesday.

Just my little weather geeked up image of the day.

Filming Record Heat, and More Cold On The Way

Spent the day on Thursday shooting record high temperature weather scenes at area beaches. Temps soared to as high as 87F along the eastern counties in Central and Southern Florida ahead of a slow moving cold front that was working it’s way down the state. South-southwest winds heated things up nicely for late January setting about a half dozen high temperature records for the day. All this warm weather had area beaches packed up and down the coast, especially with northern’s looking for that getaway from the snow and ice up north. I know I had fun in the heat and was loving every minute of it. Unfortunately, it will all come to a end later tonight as the next strong cold front moves in from the north. We will be dropping about 20-30 degree’s over the weekend putting a end to the outstanding warmth over the last several days.

More Near Freezing Florida Temps -

More possible nearing freezing weather this weekend, and this is like the third or fourth freezing temps event for Southern Florida. It’s been a chilly winter season so far, and more is forecast for this weekend. So, we’ll go from one extreme to another temp wise. One day shooting people on the beach and boardwalks in in near 90 degree heat, and the next looking for frost on the roof tops and cars at dawn.

Developing Nor’easter Next Tues -

The next big storm system looks to be around Tuesday morning for us, as a potent Nor’easter looks to be taking shape on the computer forecast models the last several runs. Looks to develop in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and ride up the east coast as a classic low. This will blast a cold front through Florida, with possible severe storms ahead of it in the warm sector. The forecast calls for very impressive wind fields over Florida for severe storms and possible tornadoes, but there looks to be a significant moisture problem as there won’t be much time after this current front to rebound the atmosphere after being scoured out of moisture. We’ll have to see over the weekend how fast the modification begins to take place. Then by mid week next week it’s back to nearing if not freezing weather in Central and some parts of Southern Florida once again. Needless to say, the weather will be active the next week, and so will I.

Warm Weather Today Will Lead To A Very Cold Weekend

Record Warmth Leads To Cold Weekend -

Record warm temperatures are possible today in South Florida, as things warm up ahead of the next potent cold front that will put a short-lived trend to the nice weather. South-southwest winds could bring temps near 85 degree’s this afternoon, with a chance of showers late in the day. This week has been fairly nice and warm since last week widespread freeze event. Unfortunately for this weekend the cloud weather will return to all of Florida. Today highs in the lower to mid 80’s, by Saturday, lucky to even reach 61F. So, it’s not looking like the best beach weather once again for those visiting from up north. The chilly temps should last into early next week.

Interior South Florida counties are looking at possibly nearing the freezing mark once again in the normally colder locations, like southwest of Lake Okeechobee. There is a freeze outlook for these regions, and could be upgraded to a freeze watch later this afternoon. With another significant east coast trough digging well into Florida, the cooler atmosphere will remain in place for several days, so the trend of a cooler and dry Florida winter continues.

Warming Trend Ahead, Busy With Hurricane Video Editing

Warming On Up Today! -

Good morning, and it is a good morning as today is the first day in the last 7 to wake up with temperatures not in the 30’s for 40’s. It was 50F this morning and the warming trend continues. Overnight lows by mid week will be in the upper 50’s, with highs near 80 degrees. It should be a very warm and pleasant week ahead after last weeks brutal cold, including 3 days of freezing temperatures almost statewide here in Florida. I worked on my lawn yesterday, and it defiantly suffered freeze damage. I’m still waiting to see how my coconut palms held up in this last hard freeze. I tried my best to keep them above the freezing mark. At least this week returns to typical Florida January cool weather at night and mild during the day, but the cold returns it looks by Friday and Saturday.

Video Editing On The Whiteboard -

I’ll be diving into some video editing this morning for some hurricane stock video requests for believe it or not Hurricane Katrina footage. I also have other video for Weatherzine that I’m working on as well, so my day looks fairly stacked up with projects, and I plan to open some windows and let the nice early afternoon warm temps filter into the house while I work.

So, now that I have a personal blog post up, and also posted my morning Twitter update (“weatherzine”), and I have had my morning coffee with a dose of CNN, I’m ready to get to work. For those of you in Florida, enjoy the beautiful weather today, and for those dealing with the Midwest and Mississippi / Ohio Valley ice storm today….so sorry.

Hard Freeze and Frost Invade South Central Florida

Scraping Frost Off The Cars -

Florida experienced overnight some of the coldest low temperatures since 2003. A widespread hard freeze took place as far south as the Florida Everglades in Southern Florida. Interior locations from Central to South FL, fell into the mid and upper 20’s in some place, while mostly everywhere else hover around or just below the freezing mark. A large portion of the state encountered several hours of subfreezing weather that likely was very damaging to cold sensitive vegetation. There was colder spots where the dew point fell more than other locations, like in Palmdale, FL, where the temp bottomed out at 23F. Palmdale is located in the region west-southwest of Lake Okeechobee. These numbers were very impressive for Florida standards, and we’ll likely see the outcome in any freeze damage to crops in the coming weeks.

Rare Sights In South Florida This Morning -

Widespread frost was also seen over central and Southern counties, like seen here in this frost picture of ice crystals forming on the window of my car. I thought this was a very unique capture early this morning as the sun was rising over my should with the temperature hover at 30F. Both cars had a heavy layer of frost on them, and the yard was a little coating of soft white too. All the roof tops had a glaze of frost on them as well, and when the sun hit the horizon, the roof tops had a little sparkle to them. The frost is beautiful in the morning, but extremely damaging to tropical plants and tree’s, like palm tree’s. I can already see damage from some of my tree’s away from the canal where is was a tad warmer. It’s the second night of freezing weather and there’s one more to go, so I don’t know how much more my coconut palms can take.

One More Night of Freezing Weather -

Tonight, like I said, is the last night of freezing temperatures, and another prime radiational cooling setup is likely. Overnight lows once again expected to fall into the 30’s and around freezing. Another widespread frost event is also forecast only adding to the vegetation damage from the 2 previous nights. Tomorrow we will begin to slowly modify and by the end of the weekend we should be back near normal. Another bad thing that will come out of this latest freeze is, come early spring all the vegetation that is killed from the cold will fuel a likely busy wildfire season. It’s already very dry in Florida, and these cold events dry it out even more and kill off grass and tree’s setting the stage for big fires comes March and April.

Widespread Florida Hard Freeze Tonight

January 2010 Florida Freeze Coverage Can Be Found Here

Damaging Florida Freeze Likely -

Almost a perfect radiational cooling freeze setup for tonight across the entire Florida peninsula. Hard freeze expected in Central Florida, and freezing temperatures well into South Florida, including western Suburbs of Metro Southeast Florida. A very large portion of Florida tonight will experience subfreezing weather for many hours, especially over inland locations. If your within a few miles of the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico, you should be spared the freezing temps, but everyone else is likely to freeze overnight. Low to Mid 20’s are forecast area wide for Central and South Florida interior regions, while closer the coasts will see around the freezing mark. It’s going to be extremely cold for Florida standards, so prepare now.

Widespread Frost Event Could Be Damaging -

Widespread frost will also become a major issue overnight, likely damaging farming vegetation, lawns, palm tree’s and anything very sensitive to cold weather extremes. Last night we got to 32F degree’s here in Okeechobee, FL, the gateway to South Florida, and it remained at the freezing mark for about 3 hours. This has likely already had a effect on my lawn and tropical tree’s and tonight’s freeze looks to finish the job. Overnight were expected to fall to around 26-28F for many hours, with widespread well developed frost.

Florida Freeze Video and Picture Coverage -

This morning I opted to stay in the warmth of my bed, and wait until tomorrow morning to film the freeze event, when the temps are forecast to be even lower and have widespread frost. It should be a very interesting event, and we’ll just have to see how low it really gets and for how long. Stay tuned!

Big Florida Freeze On The Way Next Several Days

Florida Freeze 2010 Coverage Pictures and Video

Florida Freeze On The Way -

Significant cold weather event about to begin here in Florida for the next several days. Potent arctic cold front has now cleared the entire peninsula , and almost perfect cold air advection is setting up to filter in very cold temperatures across the entire Sunshine State. Tuesday’s high temperatures are actually going to take place this morning, as the temps are forecast to steadily fall throughout the day on stiff west-northwest winds of 15-25mph. Then tonight, winds will turn more northerly and continue to usher in a very cold air mass dropping temps rapidly. Freeze watches and warnings are now in affect as far south as the Florida Everglades and South Florida interior counties. This severe cold weather event will affect the entire Florida region, so it’s time to prepare.

Tonight’s Cold Weather Expectations -

Central Florida will see temperatures tonight in the 28F-30F range with wind chills in the mid 20’s. Interior South Florida counties, including around Lake Okeechobee will see temps in the 31F-33F range with wind chills in the upper 20’s. Southeast metro counties of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade will see temperatures in the 36F-40F in Palm Beach and the lower 40’s in Ft Lauderdale and Miami eastern zone locations. Wind chill advisories are in affect for entire central and South Florida. If you think tonight’s forecast is cold for Florida, just wait until overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning.

Even Colder Weather Thursday Morning -

Tonight’s freeze might be cold air advection produced, but tomorrow night’s will be in the form of radiational cooling, as a cold dome of high pressure will settle right over the center of Florida. This will calm the winds to nothing, and allow the temperatures to bottom out, especially once the sun sets Wednesday evening. Interior locations could see sub-freezing weather for several hours almost well into South Florida. We’ll have more on this tomorrow after we get through the first round of cold tonight.

Orlando and Florida Interior Regions Frost Possible Overnight

Orlando Cold Weather Frost Possible -

Frost possibilities in tonight’s forecast for Central Florida continues the cold trend. The large trough that carved out in the eastern United States, and that is responsible for the extreme arctic blast invasion from the Great Plains eastward to the Atlantic seaboard and Florida, continues to be reinforced with more cold fronts. Tonight a cold dome high pressure system will settle over the southeast, including Florida, and this will allow winds to go very light. This will allow decent radiational cooling to setup, and temperatures will fall like a rock after sunset, especially over interior counties away from the coasts. Temps will fall into the mid to upper 30’s after midnight with area’s of frost developing in more sheltered area out of the wind. It will be pretty cold at area theme parks this evening, so be sure to dress for the cold.

Central Florida Freeze Not Likely -

Although temperatures will be in the 30’s, prolong freezing weather is not expected south of Ocala, FL. Northern Florida and along the I-10 corridor will see some freezing weather, with freeze watches now in affect. Vegetation that is sensitive to cold weather could be affected tonight, especially inland away from the water up and down the spine of the state. Frost is possible as far south as Lake Okeechobee and around the western side of the lake where temps seem to drop fast with the current setup.

Cold Weather Video Coverage Continues -

Weatherzine will be out overnight and Sunday morning in search of frost pictures and video, so be sure to check back for updates on the current Florida cold weather intrusion. The cold weather trend is expected to last well into next week, with a few more freeze and frost chances by mid week, so look for continued coverage.

Florida and National Cold Weather Video Update

Florida feeling some of the cold blast this week, but nothing like up north. This morning temperatures were not all that bad in central and South Florida, with temps in the upper 40’s to the north, to lower 50’s to the south. Luckily, high upper-level clouds associated with the subtropical jet stream, have been streaming in overhead from the Pacific and helping to keep temperature from falling too much during the overnight hours the last several days. This has kept the freezing temps to northern Florida and northward, but this could change come this weekend as the skies are forecast to clear out and possibly setup some radiational cooling. This would allow possible frost to develop as far south as central Florida. This morning there is a 90 degree difference from International Falls, MN, where it is currently -40F. That’s right!, 40 below zero, and not including the wind chill readings. Unreal!

Here is the latest Weatherzine video update for January 16, 2009, covering the latest cold weather blast not only here in Florida, but also for the eastern United States.

 

Cold Air Invades Florida, Colder Temps On The Way

January Cold Rushes Into Florida -

The cold begins it’s invasion into Florida the last 24 hours, and the forecast show’s it’s only the beginning. A series of reinforcing cold fronts are forecast to move down the peninsula over the next several days dropping the daily high and low temperatures even more possibly below freezing in some Central Florida locations. Wind chills are also looking to be a issue as far south as extreme South Florida, with cold northerly winds filtering more cold air well south into the Keys. That nice warm ridging Florida was experiencing since the week before Christmas has come to a end. The last several weeks have been 70’s and 80’s during the day, and there will be a huge contrast to those temps for the remainder of this week. I know for one, I’m not looking forward to any of this arctic air intrusion at all, and unfortunately for me it looks to stick around through the weekend. Waking up to low 40’s here at my house this morning.

Florida Cold Weather Video and Pictures -

I plan to cover some of this cold weather, especially Friday and Saturday mornings when the coldest mornings look to take place. The National Weather Service forecasts possible freezing temperatures as far south as interior central Florida. There is some threat to more temperature sensitive vegetation north of the I-4 corridor and down the extreme interior spine of the state. I will be monitoring the cold air advection and trends the next 24-48 hours, and do some cold weather Florida video coverage if it looks to really get down near freezing overnight. Nevertheless, the forecast does call for below freezing wind chill readings and wind chill advisories are likely tonight and tomorrow night. That’ll be a story in itself, and I know my fellow Floridians will have a difficult time with that for sure.

This cold weather invasion into the Sunshine State will likely make some headlines the next few days nationally and here on Weatherzine, so look for continued updates.

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