Jeff Berardelli is WFLA’s Chief Meteorologist and Local weather Specialist
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Components of the Gulf Coast measured a foot of snow on Tuesday. For a lot of cities, the totals obliterated long-standing snowfall data. Milton, Florida recorded 9 inches of snow, which greater than doubles the all-time statewide Florida document of 4 inches.
The heaviest snow fell in Louisiana, the place town of New Orleans piled up 10 inches of snow with remoted studies of over a foot. And Cellular, Alabama additionally shattered their document, choosing up round 8 inches.
Heavy snow was nonetheless falling in northern Florida Tuesday night time the place Tallahassee had an opportunity to interrupt their all-time document snowfall of two.8 inches. Snow and ice will fall throughout the I-10 hall into Lake Metropolis and Jacksonville, with maybe just a few ice pellets as far south as Ocala. All precipitation will finish by dawn.
Temperatures will fall beneath freezing from Citrus County northward. Patches of ice on roads will change into extra prevalent the additional north you go from there.
So what’s inflicting this weird climate system? It is as a result of a really distinctive arrange the place very chilly air is being compelled south into the Gulf, whereas warm-moist air is being propelled above it by a stalled entrance and weak low strain over the Gulf.
That is all taking place as a result of the polar jet stream is caught over the Gulf Coast, being compelled 1000’s of miles south of its regular location by a displaced Polar Vortex. That Polar Vortex, usually far north in Canada, is positioned within the northern U.S. — compelled south by very heat air over the Arctic Ocean. It is all linked.
The place of the jet stream over the Gulf is activating a stalled entrance, initiating growth of low strain (and moisture) whereas all of the chilly air is being compelled south.
The result’s what we name “overrunning,” the place the nice and cozy air is compelled north by low strain, and since it’s lighter (and chilly air is heavier/denser), the nice and cozy air “overruns” the chilly air on the floor. That lifting of the warm-moist air creates clouds and precipitation. Since it’s chilly sufficient for snow, that’s what is falling.
The snow is made heavier by very heat water within the western-central Gulf. In some instances, about 5 levels above regular.
Chances are you’ll hear some folks mentioning local weather change — both that this occasion proves it exists or doesn’t exist. I am right here to inform you that this occasion proves neither. There isn’t any manner of realizing whether or not this occasion would have occurred or not with out local weather change.
What we are able to say is that the hotter air within the Arctic influences the additional south displacement of the Polar Vortex. And we are able to additionally say that the hotter Gulf produced heavier snowfall charges than it in any other case would have.
Right here in Tampa Bay, no snow will fall, however it’ll really feel like snow Wednesday morning with wind chills within the 20s for a lot of and whipping winds gusting over 25 mph. That is brutal for Tampa Bay!
Wanting forward this week into the weekend, many chilly mornings and chilly days are forward. Tampa’s lows will backside out Friday and Saturday morning within the mid 30s with higher 20s on the Nature Coast.
Daytime temperatures will likely be within the 50s by means of Saturday, lastly popping above the 70-degree mark on Sunday, with good weekend sunshine.
