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Temperatures Could Drop 30 Degrees Soon
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Published: December 28, 2007
TAMPA - It looks like 2007 will leave on a warm note and 2008 will debut with a chilly blast.
Forecasters are looking at a serious flood of cold air that could drive Thursday morning temperatures down to freezing in eastern Hillsborough County and into the lower 30s in Tampa.
Couple the temperatures with a light breeze and the wind chill could be as low as 25 degrees in Tampa and drop to the teens in Hernando County, where the morning low could dip to the middle 20s.
"It's definitely the coldest air of the season," said John McMichael, National Weather Service meteorologist in Ruskin.
This will come after a weekend of near beach-weather conditions, with highs Saturday and into Monday in the upper 70s or lower 80s.
"Enjoy it while it lasts,'' Mary Ann Stanley, 66, a retired teacher from Michigan, said while lounging today on St. Pete Beach. "This is winter in Florida, so I know the weather's not going to stay. But it sure is nice while we can enjoy it."
Her husband, Bill, 69, also a retired teacher, wasn't too concerned about the coming cold front as he napped in the sun.
"It won't bother me," he said. "I'm used to it. A cold front here will be probably be mid-cold or something like that.''
The mass of cold now is over the northern Plains and is expected to reach Florida on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Its arrival will bring a chance of rain and a chilly day Wednesday, with the highs around 50 – nearly a 30-degree swing from the weekend.
The frigid air is expected to pour in Wednesday night.
"It will be cold air coming down the peninsula," McMichael said.
A weaker front will arrive Sunday with a small boost to rain chances and a possibility of thunderstorms. But it won't drop temperatures much.
If the forecast holds, December's warm weather will continue through New Year's Eve. So far, the average temperature in Tampa this month is about 4 degrees above normal.
Among those enjoying the mild weather this afternoon on busy St. Pete Beach was David Moceri, 48, from Boston, where they were expecting snow a few days ago.
"They didn't get it, thankfully,'' said Moceri, an engineer and boat captain visiting relatives. "I have a friend of mine taking care of things. I don't want to go home and have to shovel snow. But I don't know how well he's going to take care of things. You know how that works.''
Nearby, Ron Krueger of Tampa was wading in the Gulf of Mexico, pulling his daughters Taylor, 9, and Tiffany, 6, on boogie boards.
"We're just out here enjoying the nice weather we're having," said Krueger, 40, an investment finance specialist. "You can't beat it. It's a perfect day."
Forecasters don't expect the severe cold to linger, and temperatures on Friday afternoon could be up to the high 60s, close to normal for early January.
Things could change between now and Wednesday night, which is about the end of the weather service's forecast period.
However, since Thursday, each forecast has called for lower and lower temperatures.
Reporter Carlos Moncada contributed to this report. Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.
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