Record Florida warmth (H. Michael Mogil, CCM, CBM, DMS)
A persistent upper level ridge (Fig. 1) across Florida and a jet stream far to the north of Florida have both prevented most cold air intrusions from reaching into the Sunshine State. The result has been a very dry and very warm autumn.
In recent days, however, this pattern of warmth has trumped Florida weather stories. While the northern states have experienced cold and snow, it is the snowbirds who have been flocking to south Florida in large numbers.
To support my case, here are just a few of the many record warm temperature records that have been shattered or tied in the past few days:
Dec. 14
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (87) SET AT MIAMI…THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 86 SET IN 1900.
Dec 17
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (85) TIED AT MIAMI…THE OLD RECORD OF 85 WAS SET IN 1965.
…RECORD WARM LOW TEMPERATURE (76) BROKEN AT MIAMI…THIS BROKE RECORD OF 75 DEGREES SET IN 2015.
Dec 18
…RECORD WARM LOW TEMPERATURE (79) BROKEN AT MIAMI YESTERDAY…THIS BROKE THE RECORD OF 74 DEGREES SET IN 1933.
…RECORD WARM LOW TEMPERATURE (78) SET AT KEY WEST…THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 77 SET IN 1967. TEMPERATURE RECORDS FOR KEY WEST DATE BACK TO 1872.
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT LAKELAND (89)…THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 84 DEGREES SET IN 2015.
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (84) TIED AT TAMPA…THIS RECORD WAS SET IN 1933.
…RECORD WARM MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (69) BROKEN AT MELBOURNE…THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD WARM MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES SET IN 1961.
Dec. 19
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (87) WAS SET AT MIAMI…THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 85 DEGREES SET IN 1989.
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (84) WAS TIED AT TAMPA…THIS RECORD WAS LAST SET BACK IN 1956.
…RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE (83) WAS TIED AT ST PETERSBURG – ALBERT WHITTED…THIS RECORD WAS SET BACK IN 1967.
Note that the Key West record includes the length of the historical weather record. This information is not always included in official “record reports.” Hence, some records may only be short-term, be more likely to be broken, and are less representative of longer-term trends (e.g., 50 to 100 years or more).
Based on long-term computer models, more south Florida warm temperature records will likely fall between now and New Year’s Eve.
© 2016 H. Michael Mogil
Originally posted 12/20/16