Harardous Weather Week Begins Monday

Starting Monday the state of Florida will begin its Hazardous Weather Week. Monday will be dedicated to lightning. Below is the Public Information Statement from the NWS with lightning information for all of us.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
330 PM EST SAT JAN 31 2009

...FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...
...MONDAY FEBRUARY 2 IS LIGHTNING AWARENESS DAY...

LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE'S DEADLIEST AND MOST UNPREDICATABLE
PHENOMENA. METEOROLOGISTS CAN ACCURATELY FORECAST THE GENERAL
CONDITIONS THAT WILL CAUSE LIGHTNING, BUT NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE
EXACTLY WHERE AND WHEN ONE WILL STRIKE.

DURING ANY GIVEN YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 2 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY
LIGHTNING IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 9 PEOPLE INJURED.
DURING 2008, SOUTH FLORIDA WAS VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT NO ONE WAS
REPORTED TO BE KILLED BY LIGHTNING STRIKES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
IN 4 YEARS THAT NO REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS WERE OBSERVED, AND ONLY
THE THIRD TIME SINCE 1970. DESPITE THE LACK OF DEATHS, 11 PEOPLE
WERE INJURED LAST YEAR BY LIGHTNING STRIKES, TWO ABOVE THE YEARLY
AVERAGE. THIS MEANS THAT ALTHOUGH LIGHTNING ISN'T ALWAYS DEADLY, IT
ONLY TAKES A NEAR MISS TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT SOMEONE'S LIFE.

ONE ASPECT OF LIGHTNING THAT IS COMMON IN SOUTH FLORIDA BUT CAN BE
DECEIVING IS THE PERCEPTION THAT LIGHTNING ONLY STRIKES WHEN DARK
CLOUDS ARE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. SEVERAL CASES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS
HAVE PROVEN THIS TO BE FALSE. LIGHTNING COMMONLY STRIKES SEVERAL
MILES AWAY FROM THE HEAVY RAIN AREA OF THE THUNDERSTORM, AND IN SOME
CASES CAN STRIKE UP TO 10 MILES AWAY OR MORE! THIS TYPE OF LIGHTNING
IS MISLEADINGLY REFERRED TO AS DRY LIGHTNING OR BOLTS FROM THE BLUE,
BUT THEY STRIKE FROM THE SIDES OF THE CLOUDS AND ARE JUST AS STRONG
AS THOSE THAT OCCUR IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAVY DOWNPOUR. THEREFORE,
THE GREATEST DANGER OFTEN COMES WITH THE FIRST OR LAST FLASH WHEN
PEOPLE LEAST EXPECT IT.

PEOPLE SHOULD HEAD INSIDE WHEN DARKENING CLOUDS APPEAR. A GOOD RULE
OF THUMB TO USE IS THE 30-30 RULE TO PREVENT BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. THIS MEANS HEADING INDOORS WHENEVER THUNDER IS HEARD 30
SECONDS OR LESS AFTER THE LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED, AND REMAINING
INSIDE UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER IS HEARD.

RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT TEENAGE BOYS ARE THE MOST LIKELY
GROUP TO BE KILLED BY LIGHTNING IN FLORIDA. THE AGE GROUP FROM 10 TO
19 YEARS OF AGE HAS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF DEATHS, FOLLOWED BY THOSE
IN THEIR 30S AND 20S. THE NUMBER OF 10 TO 19 YEAR OLD LIGHTNING
DEATHS IS GREATER THAN THE NUMBER OF LIGHTNING DEATHS OF THOSE 40
AND OLDER.

LIGHTNING ALSO CAUSES MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. DAMAGE
IN 2008 FROM LIGHTNING TOTALLED ABOUT $70,000 IN SOUTH FLORIDA
ALONE.

SINCE 1959 THE THREE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COUNTIES OF MIAMI DADE,
BROWARD AND PALM BEACH HAVE EXPERIENCED A COMBINED 92 LIGHTNING
DEATHS, THE MOST OF ANY THREE CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES IN THE UNITED
STATES. THIS INCLUDES 34 DEATHS IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY, 31 IN BROWARD
COUNTY AND 27 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOES NOT ISSUE SPECIFIC
LIGHTNING WARNINGS...PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
AND THE SURF FORECAST DESCRIBE THE DAILY LIGHTNING DANGER IN SOUTH
FLORIDA ON A SCALE RANGING FROM NONE...TO SLIGHT...TO MODERATE...TO
HIGH. WHEN A STORM PRODUCING EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING IS OBSERVED OR IS
IMMINENT, A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT IS ISSUED TO ALERT OF ITS
LOCATION. CHECKING THESE PRODUCTS BEFORE VENTURING OUTSIDE CAN MAKE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

REMEMBER, ANY THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE A LIGHTNING FLASH WHICH CAN
KILL YOU AND THOSE NEARBY.

SOME LOCATIONS ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHERS. THE GREATEST NUMBER
OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE STRUCK WHILE NEAR A BODY OF WATER. THIS
INCLUDES PEOPLE AT THE BEACH, NEAR LAKES ON FISHING PIERS AND IN
SMALL BOATS. ANOTHER VULNERABLE LOCATION IS AN OPEN AREA WITH FEW
TRESS AROUND SUCH AS A BALL FIELD, PLAYGROUND OR GOLF COURSE.
SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES ALSO RATE HIGH IN LIGHTNING VULNERABILITY.
THESE INCLUDE WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL EVENTS.

THE INCREASING NUMBER OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN SOUTH FLORIDA ALSO
PUTS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND EVEN RESIDENTS IN UPPER FLOORS AT A
GREATER RISK SINCE TALL OBJECTS ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING MUCH MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN OBJECTS CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

NO PLACE OUTDOORS IS SAFE FROM LIGHTNING. EVEN THE INSIDE OF AN
AUTOMOBILE, WHILE SAFER THAN BEING OUTSIDE, IS NOT AS SAFE AS BEING
INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING. IF PLANNING TO BE OUTDOORS, STAY
INFORMED OF THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE
SHELTER INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING IF A THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHES OR
FORMS NEARBY.

FOR FURTHER LIGHTNING INFORMATION, AS WELL AS DAILY HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOKS WHICH INDICATE THE THREAT OF LIGHTNING OVER SOUTH
FLORIDA, AS WELL AS SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS, PLEASE VISIT THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.

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Cold Front

Our latest cold front came through the area today bringing a few showers and much cooler weather with it. After a high today of 80F at Pompano we will see our Saturday morning low bottom out around 45F.

The front was proceeded by fog this morning that brought visibilities down under a mile along the east coast and even less than a quarter of a mile further inland. This was caused by the warm, moist air that was ahead of the cold front.

Tonight should be our coldest night of this front with a second front coming through the area on Tuesday. This front looks like it could bring some winter weather all along the east coast of the US, with continued cool/cold conditions for us and possibly a wintry mix from the Carolinas and further north.

Stay warm :)

Cold Weekend Coming Up

Another strong cold front will pass through the area on Friday bringing more winter like temperatures this weekend. Here is a statement from the NWS in Miami:

FREEZE OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
156 PM EST TUE JAN 27 2009

COUNTY SPECIFIC MESSAGE:

...TEMPERATURES NEAR OR SLIGHTLY BELOW FREEZING POSSIBLE ACROSS
INTERIOR SOUTH FLORIDA EARLY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS...
...LOW WIND CHILL READINGS POSSIBLE LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...

A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA
FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH A COLD AIRMASS PUSHING DOWN THE PENINSULA
BEHIND THE FRONT. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF TEMPERATURES APPROACHING
THE FREEZING MARK LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
OVER GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES FOR A SHORT TIME. PEOPLE SHOULD
ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITY OF OR AT LEAST NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURES
AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO PROTECT TENDER
VEGETATION...AS TEMPERATURES BELOW 40 DEGREES FOR A SEVERAL HOURS
CAN STILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME FAIRLY LIGHT TOWARD SUNRISE ON SATURDAY
AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 10 MPH, HOWEVER THIS MAY STILL PRODUCE WIND
CHILLS VALUES OF AROUND 40 OR LESS OVER INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

CLEAR SKIES AND EXPECTED LIGHT WINDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND EARLY
SUNDAY MORNING COULD RESULT IN TEMPERATURES AROUND OR JUST BELOW
FREEZING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR SECTIONS OF MAINLAND SOUTH
FLORIDA ONCE AGAIN.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL
MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.

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Thursday Morning Recap

Here is a statement from the NWS in Miami summarizing the "cool" temperatures we woke up to. Also as a side note, Pompano was actually a degree warmer Thursday morning compared to Wednesday morning, 39F Wednesday and 40F Thursday. This compares to 49F this morning.

EARLY THIS MORNING, LOW TEMPERATURES PLUMMETED TO BELOW FREEZING
OVER MOST OF THE INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. IN FACT, A HARD
FREEZE OCCURRED OVER SOME NORTHERN INTERIOR LOCATIONS. READINGS WERE
IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S FROM PARTS OF GLADES COUNTY SOUTH ACROSS
MOST OF HENDRY COUNTY INTO INTERIOR SECTIONS OF COLLIER COUNTY.
WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY IN THE BELLE GLADE AREA ALSO SAW LOWS IN
THE MID TO UPPER 20S.

FARTHER SOUTH, TEMPERATURES ALSO MANAGED TO REACH THE FREEZING MARK.
LOWS BETWEEN 30 AND 32 WERE REGISTERED AS FAR SOUTH AS TAMIAMI TRAIL
IN COLLIER COUNTY, AND IN THE FAR WESTERN SUBURBS OF PALM BEACH,
BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES.

HERE ARE SOME SELECT LOW TEMPERATURES FROM INTERIOR SOUTH FLORIDA
(UNOFFICIAL READINGS INDICATED BY *):

GLADES COUNTY
PALMDALE: 23 (22 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
ORTONA: 27
MOORE HAVEN: 30

HENDRY COUNTY:
LABELLE: 27
DEVILS GARDEN: 29
BIG CYPRESS: 29
AIRGLADES AIRPORT: 30 (29 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
CLEWISTON: 30 *

INLAND COLLIER COUNTY:
IMMOKALEE: 27 (25 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES: 27 *
BIG CORKSCREW: 31 *
GOLDEN GATE: 32 *

INLAND AND WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY:
BELLE GLADE: 28 (26 RECORDED AT 2 FT ELEVATION)*
SOUTH BAY: 31
THE ACREAGE: 31 *
JUPITER FARMS: 31 *
LOXAHATCHEE: 31 *
WELLINGTON: 34 *

INLAND BROWARD
ALLIGATOR ALLEY NEAR COLLIER COUNTY LINE: 32 *
CORAL SPRINGS: 31 *
WESTON: 36
SOUTHWEST RANCHES: 35 *

INLAND MIAMI-DADE:
TAMIAMI AIRPORT: 31
THE REDLAND: 32 (30 AT 2 FT ELEVATION) *
HOMESTEAD: 35 (33 AT 2 FT ELEVATION) *

OVER METRO AREAS, LOW TEMPERATURES WERE MOSTLY IN THE MID 30S TO
LOWER 40S. NAPLES GOT DOWN TO 34, WITH MARCO ISLAND REGISTERING A
NEAR-FREEZING 33. OVER ON THE EAST COAST, LOWS RANGED FROM 35 AT
WEST PALM BEACH TO 43 AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WITH MOST
EASTERN METRO LOCATIONS IN THE MID 30S TO AROUND 40. A NOTABLE
EXCEPTION TO THIS WAS IN CORAL SPRINGS WHERE AN UNOFFICIAL
TEMPERATURE OF 31 WAS RECORDED.

AREAS OF FROST WERE COMMON OVER INTERIOR AND WESTERN LOCATIONS, WITH
PATCHY FROST ON ROOFTOPS AND ON THE TOPS OF CARS OBSERVED IN METRO
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. THE FULL EXTENT OF CROP DAMAGE FROM THE FREEZING
TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE KNOWN FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT THE TEMPERATURES
OBSERVED THIS MORNING ARE CAPABLE OF DAMAGING CROPS, ESPECIALLY IN
AREAS THAT DROPPED INTO THE 20S.

Freeze Warning in Effect Until 9AM

Already 43F as of 10PM at PMP. That is a drop of 7F since 6PM.

I am predicting a low of 37F with some patchy frost in many areas and more widespread the further west you go.
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Coldest Daytime Highs in Six Years

From the NWS this afternoon:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 
440 PM EST WED JAN 21 2009 

...COLDEST MAXIMUM DAILY TEMPERATURES IN SIX YEARS OVER MUCH OF  
SOUTH FLORIDA... 

DESPITE FULL SUNSHINE, HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY  
ONLY REACHED THE MID TO UPPER 50S AS A RESULT OF THE MODIFIED ARCTIC  
AIRMASS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED ACROSS THE REGION. SOME OF THESE  
TEMPERATURES WERE THE COLDEST DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE READINGS  
OBSERVED SINCE JANUARY 2003.  

HERE ARE TODAY'S HIGH TEMPERATURES AT THE FOUR PRIMARY OBSERVATIONS  
SITES ALONG WITH THE LAST DATE THESE READINGS WERE AS COLD OR COLDER: 

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 57 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE JANUARY 18,  
2003 (55 DEGREES). 

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 58 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE  
FEBRUARY 13, 2006 (58 DEGREES). 

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 56 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE JANUARY  
24, 2003 (50 DEGREES). 

NAPLES REGIONAL AIRPORT: 56 DEGREES, COLDEST SINCE JANUARY 24, 2003  
(56 DEGREES). 

PALM BEACH AND NAPLES AIRPORTS BOTH SET DAILY RECORD LOW MAXIMUM  
TEMPERATURE READINGS, WITH MIAMI AND FORT LAUDERDALE FALLING JUST  
SHORT OF THEIR DAILY RECORDS. 

THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE IN SOUTH FLORIDA THIS TIME OF YEAR IS  
IN THE MID 70S. 

Last Night's Lows

Here are the lows from last night and yesterday's highs. Another cold night ahead. Stay warm!

AIRPORT OBSERVATIONS HIGH LOW PCPN

FORT LAUDERDALE INTL :FLL 69 41 0.00
FORT LAUDERDALE EXEC :FXE 68 39 0.00
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL :MIA 69 42 0.00
NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT :APF 69 39 0.00
OPA LOCKA AIRPORT :OPF 68 41 0.00
PEMBROKE PINES :HWO 68 40 0.00
POMPANO BEACH AIRPORT :PMP 68 39 0.00
WEST KENDALL/TAMIAMI AP :TMB 68 40 0.00
WEST PALM BEACH :PBI 67 36 0.00

Happy 2009!

Happy New Year and welcome to my first post of the year. As I write this we have a cold front sweeping through the area which has generated some showers this afternoon and tonight. Most of this weather should pass by midnight with temperatures dropping to the lower 50s along the coastal areas and upper 40s in western areas. This will be about a 30 degree drop from today's high which was 80F at Pompano. The breezy conditions will continue through the morning.

This cooler weather will continue through Saturday and back to average temperatures on Sunday. Dry conditions will be with us through Friday when another front will come through and then mostly dry for the weekend.

I will have an update on the cooler weather later this week. Enjoy it!