Missing the heat? Staying chilly Sunday, but the first 90s of the year likely later in the week
Most of Central Florida will stay locked in the clouds and chilly weather Sunday, but sunshine will try to inch back in from east to west. Highs will be in the 50s ad 60s near the 75 corridor and closer to the low-to-mid 60s near Orlando. Brevard temperaturesThere will likely be a sharp divide in temperatures over a short distance as sunshine tries to march inland from the Atlantic Ocean. A few showers will still be around, mainly north and west of Orlando, but most stay dry Sunday afternoon. No matter how you slice it, beach weather returns for the middle of next week and lasts through the weekend.
Winter 20-21 Season: Warmer and much drier than normal
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Strong La Nina conditions persisted for another season across the globe which means a warmer and drier than normal Winter was expected. Although Central Florida fell further into a deficit with rainfall during the winter season, temperatures ran much closer to normal. During January, temperatures fluctuated cooler and warmer than normal periods basically balancing each other out. This see-saw in temperatures over the past three months, in turn, meant a very typical winter season for Central Floridians. Despite the increase in rainfall toward the end of the season, the drier than normal conditions for December and January overshadowed the wetter pattern into February.
US experienced one of the coldest February on record
As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas' power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. Seven states, including Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, experienced one of their coldest Februarys on record. February 2021 Temperature BreakdownFor about two weeks, many people dealt with temperatures 25 degrees below the average from the northern Rockies to the Central Plains. This was enough to push the U.S. into the record books with the coldest February in more than 30 years, running 3.2 degrees below the average. Several cities across central Texas, including Austin and Waco, broke records for the longest freezing streak between six and nine consecutive days.
Crews rescue thousands of sea turtles from Texas cold
Thousands of sea turtles are being saved from the winter weather in Texas. They say their group rescued around 140 sea turtles from the Brownsville ship channel and surrounding bays. [TRENDING: โDance Momsโ instructor accused of sex battery on students | Boy dies after homemade igloo collapses | Latest on $1,400 payments]Crews rescue thousands of sea turtles from cold (Credit: Texas Game Warden) (Copyright 2020 by CNN Newsource - All rights reserved.) According to the stateโs parks and wildlife department, these sea turtles are unable to swim in waters that are too cold. Sea Turtle Inc. is a nonprofit group in South Padre Island, Texas, that is helping keep the turtles safe until they can return to the water.
Most of U.S. covered with snow after massive winter storms
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Rounds of significant winter weather have forced most of the US into a deep freeze. Following a historic snowstorm earlier in the week that brought heavy snow from Seattle to Texas and into the Great Lakes region, nearly 75 percent of the country has snow on the ground. AdThe snow made it all the way down to the Gulf Coast in Texas Monday. pic.twitter.com/Lj3eWUf2y0 โ Justin Stapleton (@KPRC2Justin) February 15, 2021More snow and ice will be likely across the Deep South and Mid Atlantic through the upcoming weekend. How many inches of snow fell in your area?
Brrr! Central Florida on pace for coldest winter in 10 years
Orlando, Sanford and Daytona Beach all tied for their coldest morning in the past three years. [WATCH LIVE: News 6]Low temperatures ThursdayWinter in Central Florida to date has been defined by ups and downs in the temperature department. Through Feb. 4, all official weather observing sites, Orlando, Sanford, Melbourne, Daytona Beach and Leesburg are on pace for the coldest winter since the 2010/2011 season. Orlando winter to dateWinter is defined in the weather world as the three-month period of December, January and February for clean record keeping. You may recall this past Christmas was the coldest since 1995 and the sixth coldest on record.
Massive winter storm expected to bring snow, ice to Mid-Atlantic, Northeast
Up to two feet of snow is possible in parts on the northeast. ORLANDO, Fla. โ The winter storm that extends from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico is ramping up for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Future radarUp to two feet of snow is possible from Southeast Pennsylvania to New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. A winter storm watch covers all of Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine with the potential for heavy snow arriving late Monday. This snow and ice is part of a system that will bring another blast of cold air to Central Florida Monday.
Forecasting Change: Winter nights not as cold in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. โ According to analysis from Climate Central, the number of cold nights is changing across the country and Orlando is no exception. For example, Reno, Nevada now has 94 fewer cold nights below 32 degrees than it did back in 1970. [TRENDING: Deputies: Girl abused by childrenโs book author | Deputy investigated for slamming student | How to get vaccine in Fla.]AdHere in Orlando? We now have 13 fewer cold nights with an overnight low below 40 than we used to have. Nights below 40 degreesRemember, climate change is sometimes subtle.
BRRR: Cold weather could move into Central Florida just in time for Christmas
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Chilly air will settle in Thursday and Friday behind the latest cold front to impact Central Florida, but even colder air could be coming down the pipeline. Fast forwarding into next week, another strong cold front looks to be on the horizon around Christmas. There are indications the front could bring rain as early as Christmas Eve with the chill blasting in on Christmas morning. Other indications are that the front itself holds off until Christmas Day with the coldest days to follow the holiday. Regardless of the exact timing, look for more changes to come around Christmas.
40 inches of snow: Snowstorm buries parts of the Northeast
Reports of the snow that fell from Wednesday's snowstorm. ORLANDO, Fla. โ Those who were dreaming of a white Christmas in the Northeast got closer to their dream Wednesday. The bullseye with this storm was interior Pennsylvania and New York, where more than 40 inches of snow fell. Snow reports in the Northeast from Wednesday's storm. With Christmas a little more than a week away, most of these areas should hang on to the snow to achieve a white Christmas.
Finned, furry, and human: Clearwater Marine Aquarium to celebrate rescue days
CLEARWATER, Fla. โ Clearwater Marine Aquarium is about to celebrate the rescue anniversaries of some of its most famous dolphins, Winter and Hope. [TRENDING: This woman received the first COVID-19 vaccine | Judge scolds theme park trespasser | Chuck Yeager dies at 97]To celebrate both rescue anniversaries, the aquarium is hosting an event called Rescue Days. Talk to members of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescue team and check out one of our rescue vehicles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Foster families can enjoy a socially distanced behind-the-scenes tour prior to the aquarium opening to guests. Meet with dogs from the SPCA Tampa Bay from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)Click here to learn about the event and to learn more about the aquariums health and safety guidelines that are in place.
You can now snow tube in Florida
DADE CITY, Fla โ Floridians no longer have an excuse to say they have never seen snow. Snowcat Ridge Alpine Snow Park in Dade City has officially opened. A snow park in Florida, right?โ said Adam Thomas from Florida sports coast. Full Screen 1 / 15 Snow tubing at Snowcat Ridge in Dade City, Florida is now open. A snow park in Florida.
Forecasting Change: Winters are warming
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Last week Forecasting Change focused on warming seasons. Remember, that it is the trend that most of the warming we have going on is being experienced in the winter season. Look at this graph below that shows that the average temperature for the winter season has increased by almost three degrees in the past 50 years. Warming winter daysAnd, as I have said before, itโs not just Orlando that is feeling the heat. Look at this winter warming graphic.
No sun for two months: Sun sets for last time in 2020 in Americaโs northernmost city
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, Alaska, will watch the sun set for last time this year on Wednesday. In the winter months, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, keeping the sun below the horizon. The northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and, therefore, the sun wonโt set for a couple of months. This is also known as polar day or the midnight sun. Daylight will continue to decrease until the shortest day of the year, the first day of winter on Dec. 21.
Snowy slopes and igloos: Floridaโs Snowcat Ridge begins pre-season ticket sale
Tickets are now on sale to the Snowcat Ridge Alpine Snow Park. Arctic Igloo, guests can build snowmen or snow castles out of real snow. (WKMG-TV)Officials said the park will feature magical music and a light show on the slopes nightly which can be seen from the Holiday Market at the parkโs Alpine Village. According to the company website, The Alpine Village will have a variety of food vendors offering hot and cold beverages, beer, wine and food. Alpine Village, which features its own Holiday Market (WKMG-TV)Tickets for Snowcat Ridge start at $24.95.
Jewish family's painting looted by Nazis in 1933 is returned
The painting, discovered in an upstate New York museum, was part of a cache of art seized by the Nazis from the Mosse family in Berlin in 1933. (AP Photo/Michael Hill)ALBANY, N.Y. โ A painting of two young, 19th-century skaters that was looted by Nazis from a Jewish family in 1933 and recently discovered at a small museum in upstate New York was returned Thursday after 87 years. โThe Mosse family lost nearly everything because they were Jews. Hoffmann heads the Mosse Art Research Initiative, a university-based collaboration involving Mosse heirs and German public cultural institutions. Federal authorities were contacted as Mosse Art Restitution Project manager J. Eric Bartko was working to get the painting returned from the museum.
Hereโs what NOAAโs winter outlook means for Central Florida
When talking about winter in Florida, itโs not so much about the cold and snow, but the impact it may have on the dry season. Typically in Florida, during a La Nina winter, the season is warmer and drier than normal. For an in-depth look at what La Nina is and how it typically impacts us in Central Florida, click here. La Nina influence is reflected on NOAAโs winter outlook that was released Thursday. Winter forecast from NOAA 2020-2021NOAAโs forecast gives a very high probability of the upcoming winter being drier and warmer than normal.
What La Nina arriving could mean for the rest of hurricane season, Central Florida winter
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially declared that La Nina conditions are present. La Nina typically favors an active Atlantic basin during hurricane season, much like weโre seeing now. It had grown increasingly likely over the past few months that La Nina conditions would be around during the peak of hurricane season. This was one of the main factors in the much above average forecasts leading up to and during the current hurricane season. To be classified as a La Nina, sea surface temperature anomalies must greater than or equal to -0.5 degrees celsius.
Winter returns: Cool weekend after record-breaking heat
ORLANDO, Fla.- โ Sunshine will dominate the sky Saturday, but it will be a chilly, breezy sun. High temperatures only climb back into the mid 60s, running about ten degrees below average. Wind gusts out of the northeast will be in the 20-30mph ballpark through Saturday evening. WindMore clouds move in Sunday, but temperatures warm slightly, back to the mid 70s. Beach and Boating:It will be a dangerous day to be in the Atlantic, whether you are swimming or boating