BY J.D. GALLOP • FLORIDA TODAY • October 19, 2009
The last time it was this cold, Jimmy Carter was president and disco was all the rage.
But weather officials say the moderate cold snap will end this week as temperatures climb back into the 80s by mid-week.
Today, temperatures in Melbourne dipped to 49-degrees this morning, breaking a record of 52-degrees set in 1977, according to the weather officials.
“It was comfortable,” said Bob Wimmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
At 5:20 a.m. the temperature got down to 50 degrees at the Melbourne International Airport but then settled to 49 at 7 a.m., officials noted.
The cooler, drier air is prompting some concerns from Brevard County fire officials. Last week, several small brush fires were reported.
Weather officials also say that in addition to higher temperatures, there will be fewer chances of rain. For the next three days there will only be a 20 percent chance of rain, officials said.
“Any showers will be spotty, isolated,” Wimmer said, adding that rain chances will increase by the weekend.
“That means fire sensitivity goes up.”
Meanwhile, the NWS has issued a frost advisory for parts of the Panhandle.
Forecasters say the frost advisory is in effect from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.
According to the weather service, a cold area of high pressure is settling across the southeastern U.S. The cold, dry air is allowing temperatures to drop quickly into the mid-30s.
A frost advisory means that areas of frost are expected.
Forecast from the National Weather Service
The last time it was this cold, Jimmy Carter was president and disco was all the rage.
But weather officials say the moderate cold snap will end this week as temperatures climb back into the 80s by mid-week.
Today, temperatures in Melbourne dipped to 49-degrees this morning, breaking a record of 52-degrees set in 1977, according to the weather officials.
“It was comfortable,” said Bob Wimmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
At 5:20 a.m. the temperature got down to 50 degrees at the Melbourne International Airport but then settled to 49 at 7 a.m., officials noted.
The cooler, drier air is prompting some concerns from Brevard County fire officials. Last week, several small brush fires were reported.
Weather officials also say that in addition to higher temperatures, there will be fewer chances of rain. For the next three days there will only be a 20 percent chance of rain, officials said.
“Any showers will be spotty, isolated,” Wimmer said, adding that rain chances will increase by the weekend.
“That means fire sensitivity goes up.”
Meanwhile, the NWS has issued a frost advisory for parts of the Panhandle.
Forecasters say the frost advisory is in effect from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.
According to the weather service, a cold area of high pressure is settling across the southeastern U.S. The cold, dry air is allowing temperatures to drop quickly into the mid-30s.
A frost advisory means that areas of frost are expected.
Forecast from the National Weather Service
Today: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 73. Windy, with a north northwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Windy, with a east northeast wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 10 mph.
Friday: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph becoming south southwest.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West southwest wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. North northwest wind around 10 mph.
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Contact Gallop at 409-1422 or jdgallop@floridatoday.com
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P.S. So much for Global Warming, correction Climate Change.........Arsenio.