Extreme Cold in Florida, December 17, 2002

WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN
830 PM EST MON DEC 16 2002

FOLLOWING SUNSET...EVENING TEMPS ARE FALLING UNDER A CLEAR SKY AND
NEAR CALM WIND...WITH PREVALENT RADIATIONAL COOLING. POST SUNDOWN DEW
PTS HAVE SUPERFICIALLY CREPT UP AS COOLING (SINKING) ATMOSPHERE NEAR
THE SURFACE IS SQUELCHING (CONCENTRATING) AVAILABLE MOISTURE INTO A
VERY SHALLOW LAYER NEAR THE SURFACE. WITH CONTINUED COOLING THIS
MOISTURE WILL BE WRUNG OUT (CONDENSATE) AS DEW ONTO THE GROUND TO
ALLOW OVERNIGHT TEMPS TO FALL BELOW AMBIENT DEWPTS TOWARD EXPECTED
MINIMUMS. BUT WOULD STILL EXPECT TEMPS TO LEVEL OUT LATE NIGHT AS
BOUNDARY FLOW WINDS TRY TO EASE INTO VERY LIGHT NE AFTER 3AM.

CONDENSATE WILL OCCUR AS AREAS OF FROST OVER THE NORTHERN FA...
PARTICULARLY IN COLDER INLAND PORTIONS OF CITRUS...AND HERNANDO
COUNTIES WHERE MIN TEMPS WILL LOWER INTO THE 31-33 RANGE...OTHERWISE
MOSTLY 34 TO 37 DEGREE LOWS FROM NE PASCO COUNTY NWD...EXCEPT 37-40
NEAR THE IMMEDIATE GULF COAST. EXPECT MOSTLY LOWER 40S ELSEWHERE
OVER THE CENTRAL/SRN FA EXCEPT POCKETS OF UPPER 30S COLDER INTERIOR
RURAL POCKETS WITH NEAR NIL GROUND FROST PREMISE.

ONGOING ZONE FCSTS LOOK REASONABLY ON TRACK WITH NO CHANGES PLANNED.

.MARINE...LOOKS GOOD WITH NO FCST CHANGES.

.TBW...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR TUESDAY FOR LEVY...SUMTER...INTERIOR
       HERNANDO AND CITRUS COUNTIES.

DMR

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-161500-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
600 AM EST MON DEC 16 2002

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

CLEAR SKIES COMBINED WITH LIGHT WINDS AND WET GROUND FROM LAST WEEKS
RAIN HAS ALLOWED PATCHY DENSE FOG TO DEVELOP THIS MORNING.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SUDDEN CHANGES IN
VISIBILITY.  DUE TO THE PATCHY NATURE OF THE FOG...VISIBILITIES WILL
DROP QUICKLY IN A SHORT DISTANCE.  IN ADDITION...VISIBILITIES MAY
BECOME SEVERELY RESTRICTED NEAR RIVERS...LAKES...BRIDGES...AND LOW
LYING AREAS.  THE FOG IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE BY 9 AM.

ALONG WITH THE PATCHY FOG...TEMPERATURES THIS MORNING HAVE DROPPED
INTO THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S ACROSS PORTIONS OF LEVY...CITRUS...
HERNANDO...SUMTER AND EASTERN PASCO COUNTIES WHERE A FREEZE WARNING
REMAINS IN EFFECT.  ELSEWHERE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST...
FLORIDA TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S.  RESIDENTS
VENTURING OUT THIS MORNING SHOULD DRESS WARMLY.  SEVERAL LAYERS OF
CLOTHING WILL INSULATE YOU BETTER THAN A SINGLE COAT OR JACKET.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY:

AREAS OF DENSE FOG WILL ONCE AGAIN BE POSSIBLE EARLY TUESDAY MORNING
AND AGAIN WEDNESDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE TAMPA BAY
AREA.  OTHERWISE...NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW

PRC