The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

A hard freeze occurred across northern Florida this morning with temperatures dropping into the upper teens and lower 20s. Freezing temperatures were reported across the central part of the state, with frost all the way down to the southern counties. Plymouth in Orange County dropped to 16 degrees, with Orlando falling to 29. It may take a few days before it is known whether protective measures were successful in preventing damage to fruit and vegetable crops. It will be another cold night tonight across Florida, but temperatures should be a little warmer than this morning. Temperatures across the rest of the eastern U.S. will be warmer today than recent days, as milder air from the west flows in.

Very warm air is located over the Western Plains from western Nebraska southward into western Texas. Several record high temperatures occurred yesterday in this area, and a few records will be possible again this afternoon. Temperatures will climb into the 60s as far north as southwestern South Dakota, with readings in the 70s from western Kansas to western Texas. The mild weather will come to a shocking end however, as an arctic cold front plunges southward tonight. The arctic air will overspread the Northern Plains tonight and arrive in the Midwest and Central Plains by Friday morning. Strong and gusty northwest winds will accompany the frontal passage along with rapidly falling temperatures.

Wet weather has made a return to the southwestern states. A slow moving storm system off the California coast will bring light to moderate rain to California, southern Oregon, Nevada and Arizona today through tomorrow. Rain and snow will expand through the Central Rockies later tonight and tomorrow. Heavy snow is expected in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California as well as in the mountains of northeastern Utah and western Colorado over the next few days.

WEATHER EXTREMES SO FAR TODAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............85 Mineral Wells, TX

.............................................. Wichita Falls, TX

.............................................. San Angelo, TX

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)..............85 Mineral Wells, TX

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............-6 Lewiston, ME

.............................................. Holton, ME

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............-41 Cut Bank, MT

...........................................-41 Frenchville, ME

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................52 Rapid City, SD

.............................................. Buffalo, SD

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............2.40 Yosemite, CA

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1780, a British Army thermometer registered a reading of 16 below zero in New York City. This was the coldest day of the coldest month on record across the northeastern U.S.

In 1988, severe winds blew across northeastern Colorado. Winds gust to 92 mph at Boulder before the anemometer blew away. Mines Peak reported a gust of 120 mph. East of Boulder, nine concrete girders, each weighing forty-five tons, were blown off their supports.

In 1989, arctic air continued its grip on Gunnison, Colorado. They checked in with a low of 19 degrees below zero, making it the coldest spot in the nation for the twelfth day in a row.

DTN-Meteorlogix

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