Dec.1,2009-Feb.15,2010

[happ]

Wednesday 2-3-10

Ocotillo Wells: 77F\ 25C

[bubba]

Feb. 3, 2010-Miami,Fl.-81F.

[happ]

Thursday 2-4-10

Palm Springs\ Borrego: 70F\ 21.1C

[bubba]

Feb. 4, 2010-Naples,Fl.-81F.

[happ]

Friday 2-5-10

Borrego Springs: 68F\ 20C

[bubba]

Feb.5,2010-Miami,Fl.-83F.

[SunnyFl]

Feb.5,2010-Miami,Fl.-83F.

Seriously? Is it any cooler today?

Here it's only 59.

[happ]

Saturday 2-6-10

Ocotillo Wells: 66F\ 18.8C

[bubba]

Feb. 6, 2010-Pompano Beach,Fl.-79F.

Sunny, The front did not hit here until afternoon Sat.We now have the chillies.Hopefully not a return to the frozen tundra.

Happ, I greatly appreciate your major help in this project. Thank you.

[happ]

Feb. 6, 2010-Pompano Beach,Fl.-79F.

Sunny, The front did not hit here until afternoon Sat.We now have the chillies.Hopefully not a return to the frozen tundra.

Happ, I greatly appreciate your major help in this project. Thank you.

It's actually rather simple getting the data especially if limited to the National Weather Service. I have a question for you, bubba. Do you see a pattern of certain locales being the warmest in Florida? Assuming that winter temps are warmest in the far south end of the peninsula, are there reasons\ circumstances why some stations are the usual warm spots? I've noticed for example that Key West is rarely the warmest station in Florida [except minimum temps] yet is the farthest south point in the U.S. aside from Hawaii. It also seems that the warmest stations are often on the Atlantic ocean side of Florida [is that a result of gulf stream proximity?].

In California the region for warmest winter maximums shifts from the coastal plain in early winter to the low desert by now. Offshore wind from late autumn\ early winter favors the coastal side of the mountains but with the days getting longer it is the desert where spring first arrives.

Super-Sunday 2-7-10

Palm Springs: 67F\ 19.4C

Thermal: 67F

Go Saints!

[bubba]

Feb.7,2010-Brownsville, Tx-77F.Best in Florida was Key West at 69F.

Happ, Florida Winter highs are very unpredictable.The highest low temperatures are virtually always found in the Keys but when the High temperature in the State is in the Keys, it normally is because of the passage of a cold front.(like yesterday)The proximity of the Gulfstream has a limited effect on High temperatures but a major effect on low temperatures.Singer Island and Palm Beach are the furthest Eastern points in the State and the Gulfsteam is usually 2 miles offshore.This creates a bit of a micro-climate increasing minimum temperatures compared to inland areas of similar latitude.

My general observation about High maximum temperatures in the State is that many times they occur on the Western side of the pennisula in places like Ft. Myers and Naples. This was not a normal year. Accordingly, we have seen most of the High Winter maximums occuring usually at the Southern most points (latitude rules)and generally more inland,where it heats up to a greater extent.That is why we have seen West Kendall so often this year because of its low latitude(ie 25 degrees)and its inland location. On the flip side, the inland Western areas are also prone to see lower minimums. They are further away from the moderating influence on low temperatures from the very warm Gulfstream.

As it relates to the shift away from Cool Season in South Florida, it starts with a general warm-up in the Keys that moves gradually North.There is a change in the air that was felt last week only to be interupted by another front.Notwithstanding the front, the change is underway as the the days grow longer and the sunshine more direct.That stated, the Jan. episode of 2-11 will not soon be forgotten by the entire State.In the South, many tropicals that are taken for granted, are brown and although they will come back, it is not a pretty sight. To the North, our edge/zone pushers are very frustrated by the colds effect on their hard work.

[happ]

Monday 2-8-10

Palm Springs: 69F\ 20.5C

[bubba]

Feb.8, 2010-McAllen, Tx.-85F. Best in Florida was Miami and several locations at 71F.

Happ,I have read about meteorological phenomena referred to as PNA and NAO as having major effects on predicting cold events in Florida. Can you explain these issues? Are they predictable or do they just jump up? Also, what are the conditions that come together to produce cold in Southern Ca. like that experienced in 2007. Was it similar to the event experienced in 1949?

[happ]

Feb.8, 2010-McAllen, Tx.-85F. Best in Florida was Miami and several locations at 71F.

Happ,I have read about meteorological phenomena referred to as PNA and NAO as having major effects on predicting cold events in Florida. Can you explain these issues? Are they predictable or do they just jump up? Also, what are the conditions that come together to produce cold in Southern Ca. like that experienced in 2007. Was it similar to the event experienced in 1949?

It might be better to read what the PNA [Pacific North American pattern]& NAO [North Atlantic Oscillation] are per the Climate Prediction Center: http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/pna.shtml, http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/nao.shtml.

It appears ENSO [warming of tropical Pacific] influences the PNA. I don't know how the NAO factors in but there is plenty of info on both [a bit too technical for me to adequately explain]. This year the Arctic Oscillation [which is a part of the NAO] greatly affected the weather in North America & Europe during January. It would be interesting to see if these conditions were present during the 1977 & 1989 freezes in Florida.

Generally El Nino triggers a strong oceanic flow along the West Coast which provides much rainfall & fairly uniform temps [ie. relatively cool cloudy days\ mild cloudy nights]. And one reason the Winter Olympics in British Columbia is desperate for snow

The freezes of 1990 & 2007 in California were a result of blocking high pressure over Alaska & the direct circulation of cold arctic air into the Southwest. Polar high pressure allows sub-freezing air masses to descend into the middle latitudes. When arctic air passes over land instead of over the Pacific or Atlantic oceans it is deadly for plant life, as we painfully know.

Edited February 9, 2010 by happ

[gsn]

Feb.8, 2010-McAllen, Tx.-85F. Best in Florida was Miami and several locations at 71F.

Happ,I have read about meteorological phenomena referred to as PNA and NAO as having major effects on predicting cold events in Florida. Can you explain these issues? Are they predictable or do they just jump up? Also, what are the conditions that come together to produce cold in Southern Ca. like that experienced in 2007. Was it similar to the event experienced in 1949?

It might be better to read what the PNA [Pacific North American pattern]& NAO [North Atlantic Oscillation] are per the Climate Prediction Center: http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/pna.shtml, http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/nao.shtml.

It appears ENSO [warming of tropical Pacific] influences the PNA. I don't know how the NAO factors in but there is plenty of info on both [a bit too technical for me to adequately explain]. This year the Arctic Oscillation [which is a part of the NAO] greatly affected the weather in North America & Europe during January. It would be interesting to see if these conditions were present during the 1977 & 1989 freezes in Florida.

Generally El Nino triggers a strong oceanic flow along the West Coast which provides much rainfall & fairly uniform temps [ie. relatively cool cloudy days\ mild cloudy nights]. And one reason the Winter Olympics in British Columbia is desperate for snow

The freezes of 1990 & 2007 in California were a result of blocking high pressure over Alaska & the direct circulation of cold arctic air into the Southwest. Polar high pressure allows sub-freezing air masses to descend into the middle latitudes. When arctic air passes over land instead of over the Pacific or Atlantic oceans it is deadly for plant life, as we painfully know.

Which is exactly why Florida and the gulf states experienced our artic Blast this winter... A massive HIGH over Greenland BLOCKING the cold air from pushing east and out into the Atlantic, and funneling it south directly into Florida and the gulf states. Irrespective of what El Nino (ENS0) did or did NOT do, to contribute to the cold! The blocking HIGH was the main factor in our extended cold outbreak.

[happ]

Tuesday 2-9-10

Ocotillo Wells: 66F\ 18.8C

[epicure3]

Me thinks that the highs around the country will flip flop to the west in the next couple of days. It never fails to get a week of highs out here and then 3+ weeks of cold to follow. Yuck.

Rightly or wrongly, I always look at the PNA (+ or -) to figure out how warm it will be in SoCal in the winter.

[bubba]

Feb. 9, 2010- Kendall,Fl.-81F.

After looking at the sites Happ gave, there is certainly a direct correlation between Florida Cold and negative PNA. Additionally, the NAO is also in the mode that steers cold North and South rather than West to East(ie the "Greenland Block"),which is not good for Fla. or Europe as it relates to Winter cold.

[happ]

Me thinks that the highs around the country will flip flop to the west in the next couple of days. It never fails to get a week of highs out here and then 3+ weeks of cold to follow. Yuck.

Rightly or wrongly, I always look at the PNA (+ or -) to figure out how warm it will be in SoCal in the winter.

What I don't understand is how a colder than normal north Pacific can trigger a semi-permanent high over California. La Nina conditions can be warm for us or unexpectedly cold at times. Regardless, it's nice to have plentiful rainfall followed by a warm spell for a while. I hate to look at my veitchia

[happ]

Wednesday 2-10-10

Palm Springs: 68F\ 20C

[epicure3]

Me thinks that the highs around the country will flip flop to the west in the next couple of days. It never fails to get a week of highs out here and then 3+ weeks of cold to follow. Yuck.

Rightly or wrongly, I always look at the PNA (+ or -) to figure out how warm it will be in SoCal in the winter.

What I don't understand is how a colder than normal north Pacific can trigger a semi-permanent high over California. La Nina conditions can be warm for us or unexpectedly cold at times. Regardless, it's nice to have plentiful rainfall followed by a warm spell for a while. I hate to look at my veitchia

Haven't a clue. Or, in german, ich habe keine ahnung.

[bubba]

Feb.10, 2010-Key West,Fl.-72F.

[happ]

Thursday 2-11-10

Palm Springs: 74F\ 23.3C

[bubba]

Feb. 11,2010-Miami,Fl.-66F.I could not find anything higher in Texas.

[happ]

Friday 2-12-10

Indio: 74F\ 23.3C

[bubba]

Feb.12, 2010-Miami,Fl.-79F.

[happ]

Saturday 2-13-10

Chatsworth: 81F\ 27.2C

El Cariso: 81F

[bubba]

Feb. 13,2010-Key West,Fl.-70F. From the Winter that will never go away!

[happ]

Sunday 2-14-10

Several areas 80F\ or above, esp in LA area:

Chatsworth 83F\ 28.3C

Pasadena: 83F

Fillmore: 83F

[epicure3]

Sunday 2-14-10

Several areas 80F\ or above, esp in LA area:

Chatsworth 83F\ 28.3C

Pasadena: 83F

Fillmore: 83F

Actually, the NWS-SD reports The Wild Animal Park at 88F today.

[bubba]

Feb.14,2010-Ft. Lauderdale and Miami,Fl.-63F.This Winter is really tiresome.I did see Texas had readings around 80F.

[happ]

Sunday 2-14-10

Several areas 80F\ or above, esp in LA area:

Chatsworth 83F\ 28.3C

Pasadena: 83F

Fillmore: 83F

Actually, the NWS-SD reports The Wild Animal Park at 88F today.

Sorry about that. It was 88F\ 31.1C also in Anaheim & mid 80's in other SoCal cities.

[happ]

Last day for this thread, I guess.

Monday, 2-15-10

Wild Animal Pk: 86F\ 30C

[bubba]

Feb. 15, 2010-Kendall,Fl.77F.This chronicles our 2009-2010 Maximum high temperatures. We will try to figure out what it means. In Florida,I know it means we have had a cold Winter that I am happy to have nearing an end(unless it goes on forever!). Once again, I appreciate Happ's assistance in this little project. Thank you Happ.