Extreme Cold in Florida, December 29, 2002

WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN
748 PM EST SAT DEC 28 2002

CURRENTLY...CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS ACROSS FA. SOME
WISPS OF VERY THIN CIRRUS OVER THE EXTREME S FA DUE TO CONTINUED
PRESENCE OF MODERATELY STRONG UPPER JET (110 KT + AROUND 40K FT).
SFC TDS 25-30 OVER THE N FA...AND MID 30S CENT AND S. CENTER OF SFC
RIDGE AT A VERY LOW LATITUDE OVER THE N GULF.

--REST OF TONIGHT--
A COLD AND FROSTY NIGHT IN STORE...AT LEAST FOR THE N 1/2 OF THE FA.
SEEMS NEARLY IDEAL RADIATION CONDITIONS SETTING UP WITH CLEAR SKIES
AND VERY LIGHT WINDS. 00Z TBW SOUNDING INDICATED STRONGER WINDS OF
15-20 KTS ABOVE 3K FT...BUT EXPECT ATMOSPHERE TO DECOUPLE. PREFER TO
WORD INTERIOR CENT FA FOR SCATTERED VS PATCHY FROST GIVEN SFC TDS
EXPECTED TO BE IN THE LOW-MID 30S. WILL WAIT ANOTHER HOUR TO WATCH
TD TRENDS BEFORE DECIDING IF UPDATE WILL BE NEEDED.

--MARINE--
GENERALLY LIGHT NNE WINDS OF 10 KTS OR LESS EXPECTED TONIGHT. NO
CHANGES PLANNED FOR EVENING UPDATE.

.TBW...FREEZE WARNING TONIGHT FOR LEVY...CITRUS...SUMTER...
       HERNANDO...AND PASCO COUNTIES.
    ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH ALL COUNTIES SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

MORALES

FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-290500-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
300 PM EST SAT DEC 28 2002

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

.DAY ONE...SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY:

FREEZE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT TONIGHT FROM PASCO COUNTY NORTHWARD AS
LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 25 TO 30 DEGREES AWAY FROM THE
COAST BY SUNRISE SUNDAY MORNING.  A COMBINATION OF CLEAR SKIES...
LIGHT WINDS...AND POLAR HIGH PRESSURE WILL MAKE FOR A COLD
NIGHT.  DURATIONS OF 6 TO 8 HOURS BELOW FREEZING OVERNIGHT IS
POSSIBLE FROM PASCO COUNTY NORTH...MAINLY ACROSS THE INTERIOR.

IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH...TEMPERATURES ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO BE
35 TO 40...HOWEVER A FEW ISOLATED POCKETS OF NEAR FREEZING
TEMPERATURES IS POSSIBLE IN THE TYPICALLY COLDER LOCATIONS. PATCHY
FROST WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT ACROSS INLAND AREAS.

IF GOING OUTSIDE TONIGHT...DRESS IN LAYERS TO INSULATE YOURSELF FROM
THE COLD. PROTECT COLD SENSITIVE PLANTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY:

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES ON TUESDAY
WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT THROUGH FLORIDA...BRINGING THE THREAT OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE STRONG
TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN
IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH...AND GUSTY WINDS.

OTHERWISE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY.

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES FROM THE NWS IN RUSKIN.