Our First Cold Front

[Moose]

Technically its our second cold front of this season. The last one was very mild that never impacted South Florida. This one will have high 40's F in Southern Miami Dade County. Still mild but we are overdue for another cold winter. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

[Cocoa Beach Jason]

Got down to 48 at my house last night. Came early this year it seems.

[Rafael]

Do you guys call it cold front?

Here we also hit 49F these days. In Azores 60F.

Nothing to be worried about, i think.

[Walt]

Low temperature records for this date were broken all through Florida. Today could also see record low highs for this date, too.

[Moose]

Do you guys call it cold front?

Here we also hit 49F these days. In Azores 60F.

Nothing to be worried about, i think.

Rafael - its all relative. South Florida usually enjoys USDA zone 11 temperatures for all days except for a few. Central Florida is mostly zone 11 as well except the fronts the fronts are more often and generally longer lasting. Frost keeps them from growing the tropical stuff. These cold fronts preclude South Florida from growing the ultra tropical species.

The majority of those who visit Palm Talk are zone pushers. Relatively speaking - it is a cold front. Hopefully this was just an early anomaly. The fronts get more severe and frequent all the way into late February 'til mid March. An individual cold event is often not a problem. Multiple events can stress and cause an eventual demise of the cold sensitive species in a bad season.

[Rafael]

Do you guys call it cold front?

Here we also hit 49F these days. In Azores 60F.

Nothing to be worried about, i think.

Rafael - its all relative. South Florida usually enjoys USDA zone 11 temperatures for all days except for a few. Central Florida is mostly zone 11 as well except the fronts the fronts are more often and generally longer lasting. Frost keeps them from growing the tropical stuff. These cold fronts preclude South Florida from growing the ultra tropical species.

The majority of those who visit Palm Talk are zone pushers. Relatively speaking - it is a cold front. Hopefully this was just an early anomaly. The fronts get more severe and frequent all the way into late February 'til mid March. An individual cold event is often not a problem. Multiple events can stress and cause an eventual demise of the cold sensitive species in a bad season.

Ok then, it is a cold front to south florida criteria

I hope it is occasional!

And, by the way, today, in Azores, where i am working, i still enjoyed the pool

[Walt]

It's a cold front anytime Arctic air pushes down this far, regardless it it's not a devastating cold front like we could get in January (or late December or early February). What makes this particular cold front notable is that it was a low temperature record breaker for this time of the year in many locations, especially inland locations without the benefit of water (ocean, Gulf, bay, lakes, etc.) to help hold up temperatures. If this same cold front (same temperatures) were to come a month later, it would be far more normal -- and not notable! I think the low temperature record for this date in my inland location this morning was broken by four degrees F. As far as I'm concerned ,considering the date -- four degrees is notable and concerning.

[mnorell]

Here in the Lower Florida Keys we had a record-breaker as well: Key West registered two of them, in fact--a low this morning of 61F, a degree lower then the old record, and a high of 69F, four degrees lower than the old "lowest maximum" record of 73F (set in 1874!). With the wind and dryness mixed in, all I can say is...brrrrrr! Water temp at Key West also dropped way down to 74F this morning. We are not accustomed to such things down here, certainly not this early in the season, and everybody was talking about the fact that they had to dig out a blanket for the first time. Luckily it is short-lived but I hope it is not a harbinger of things to come in the approaching winter!

[Walt]

When I served in the US Navy for four years ('67-'71) my last duty station was in Key West, Florida (June '70 to July '71). I can remember a few days here and there during the winter months when it got relatively cool, especially with a dry north wind. But I recall one night in either January or February of '71 when it dropped to 47 degrees in Key West (just six degrees above their all-time low). Me and two navy buddies were camping out in Bahia Honda State Park that night. We had a camp fire going and were drinking lots of beer and whiskey. I remember looking up at the blowing coconut palms and thinking how I just couldn't reconcile swaying coconut palms and such cold.

I also remember one other day when my ship sailed to the Dry Tortugas, and it was cool, windy, and overcast. But by and large the weather was great in Key West.

[Walt]

Miami sets low temperature records today:

https://twitter.com/NWSMiami/status/529023512141262849?s=04

[gsytch]

Currently 41F here in West Pasco at 6am. Record breaking low. Old record 44F. Yesterday, under full sunny skies, it never got above 60F. Although they are predicting 80F by Tuesday afternoon, the Gulf will drop off and keep us cooler here on the coast. The seabreeze will begin blunting PM temps. 35F with frost in Brooksville (also known as the Arctic of Tampa Bay). Way too early. Not nice I tell ya!

[Alicehunter2000]

Evidently we got down to around 42 degrees....yikes! that's cold even for up here this time of year. Please don't let it be colder than last year.

And it is DRY!

[Moose]

Its very dry, got plants tumbling over because my soil mix is bone dry. Rotating them into a large container with water giving them a good 2 hour soak.

It hit 80 F @1:00 pm today in the front garden, southern exposure. I'm sure there was radiant heat coming off the asphalt street. Just 90 ft way towards the north, high of 71 F in the shade.

[_Keith]

Evidently we got down to around 42 degrees....yikes! that's cold even for up here this time of year. Please don't let it be colder than last year.

And it is DRY!

We got down to 38, and like you dry, bone dry. I wonder where the phrase bone dry came from?

[PalmatierMeg]

Sunday low was 46.6 on the Isabelle Canal. I had to bring in my two uber tropical Areca macrocalyx Sat. night and last night. Too early for such nonsense. I barely had time to finish my mancozeb spraying.

[Dave-Vero]

It's warmed up, but our coldest night was the coldest since the middle of February. Chart.

[bubba]

This seems to be a primarily Floridian thread and I do not know about you but at this time of year I am ready for a cool down. At the initial part of this month, in my area, we had 3 days with highs in the 70's F and lows in the 50's F. I like to consider this "California weather", which is a great break from our ordinary hot and humid weather.

This was our first break from hot weather since Feb. 2014. We are now back to our typical humid and relatively hot weather. I believe our average temperature at this time of year is 82F-68F. However, it seems hotter generally than those numbers.

I can remember spending Thanksgiving a number of years ago with my family at my Godfather's ranch in Arcadia, Florida. The highs were in the lower 90's F. It is difficult to enjoy Thanksgiving when you are sweating like stuck pork while watching football games with people wearing sweaters!

The good news is that as a Tropical Savannah, we are finally moving to dry season. Nov-May is the time to be in So. Fla. But for the mass migration from all points in the US, it would be even more delightful. Should the temperature plummet into the high 30's F or lower for a day or two that is not the end of the world. Probably the best idea is to spend May to Nov in Jackson Hole and Nov to May in PB like a good friend of mine if you are looking for the best of the best.

[Ken Johnson]

Evidently we got down to around 42 degrees....yikes! that's cold even for up here this time of year. Please don't let it be colder than last year.

And it is DRY!

We got down to 38, and like you dry, bone dry. I wonder where the phrase bone dry came from?

From on line..."as dry as a weathered bone".

[gsytch]

Due to the early cold front, the Gulf is hovering in the upper 60'sF to 70F, which is below average. This is also keeping my afternoons down. Yesterday, as an example, it never rose above 71F here at the house. Yet, I was at my district office in Land O Lakes about 15 miles inland and it was 77F at 1pm. Long range is hinting at a real chill coming down next week with perhaps 40F or so for one or two nights,. I would rather have this in November than January! Still, November has been chilly, below normal. Greenhouse will begin to get covered this weekend, a little early. Not sure if I will get it all covered, but will try.

[Moose]

Due to the early cold front, the Gulf is hovering in the upper 60'sF to 70F, which is below average. This is also keeping my afternoons down. Yesterday, as an example, it never rose above 71F here at the house. Yet, I was at my district office in Land O Lakes about 15 miles inland and it was 77F at 1pm. Long range is hinting at a real chill coming down next week with perhaps 40F or so for one or two nights,. I would rather have this in November than January! Still, November has been chilly, below normal. Greenhouse will begin to get covered this weekend, a little early. Not sure if I will get it all covered, but will try.

The next forecast frontal system will be monitored here.

[Moose]

The next one is here, albeit much milder

[gsytch]

The change is airmasses has been drastic. Sun and MOn had middle 80sF and high humidity with DP 70-73F under partly sunny skies. Tuesday into Wed AM had 5 inches (officially 5.1") and we were far from the heaviest in Tampa Bay. Land O Lakes/Lutz saw almost 7", as did Zephyrhills north into Sumter county. It just kept pouring and thundering. Today is chilled. Temps dropped from 71F at midnight to middle 50's by 8am and never made it above 62F. Currently a brisk 50F out. I would say 45F tonight. Tomorrow night will see frost to the north of Tampa Bay. Then, the warmup begins! A nice stretch of 75-80F is coming. November has been on the cold side, wet, and very variable. It is usually a dry, stable month. I hope winter does not do this roller coaster ride!

[Moose]

A bit nippy on Turkey day

[Jimbean]

We got down to 45F here on the coldest night.

[Zeeth]

Low for my new location in Palmetto for November has been 42 F. Some of my coconuts are already showing damage

[gsytch]

After a wonderful week, next week begins the cool down. Expected highs mainly in the 60'sF with 40'sF at night. Yesterday hit 80F yet again, and this morning there is heavy fog with 65F. After over 5" of rain prior to TG, nothing since then, so rainfall would be welcomed. I am NOT a fan of cooldowns, but this is just somewhat below normal rather than cold. That said, it looks like we are the only place that will be below normal. Odd.

[Jimbean]

Good thing the water temperatures had a chance to warm up.

[Jimbean]

It's still below average though

[Moose]

A bit nippy here this morning. Looks like multiple fronts will keep the lows down for a bit. Its tolerable here but for those upstate I'm not so sure.

[palmsOrl]

Loving it here in Orlando. Lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s for almost a week straight! Though the cold fronts from late December through early Feb tend to be stronger, I think the month of December in general is when we are most likely to get extended cool/chilly spells (usually without even a night getting near freezing). I also believe December to be our cloudiest month in Orlando.

[Jimbean]

47F here this morning

[PalmatierMeg]

50.7F on the Isabelle Canal this morning. Forecast was 48. A week of below normal temps in store - so much for a "warmer than normal Dec." Lot of clouds so far this season.

[empireo22]

46 here this morning

[Jimbean]

47 here

44 in Rockledge

[palmislandRandy]

47f this morning here near the Everglades in Palm Beach County. Brrrrrrrrrrrr.

-Randy

[PalmatierMeg]

50.9

[empireo22]

49 this morning

[SubTropicRay]

48F again this morning. This is tolerable weather. The problem is freeze season for central Florida didn't start until December 10 so there's a long, long way to go. With a positive Arctic Oscillation, the remainder of December "should" be safe. January is (as always) the most dangerous month.

[Moose]

47f this morning here near the Everglades in Palm Beach County. Brrrrrrrrrrrr.

-Randy

I actually dipped to 45 F for a brief period. Strange how the temps ranged in so many areas. Broward & Palm Beach Counties and other northern tracts often fared better then much of Miami-Dade County.

[Mandrew968]

Lowest so far has been 49.