Global Warming Strikes Again: Record Low Temps For Tampa Bay!
December 13, 2010: Danny Valentine / St. Petersburg Times – December 13, 2010
Hard freezes are expected the next two mornings as severe cold settles into the Tampa Bay area, dropping temperatures into the 20s and 30s, putting farmers on alert and opening cold weather shelters. Low temperatures on Tuesday morning are expected to be in the 20s in most of the Tampa Bay area and the teens as far south as Hernando County.
“With this kind of cold, people need to employ basic safety measures,” said Jennifer McNatt, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. “Pets should be brought inside, plants need to be protected and people need to make sure heating devices are being used properly.”
Even parts of Pinellas County, surrounded by warmer waters from the Gulf of Mexico, could see temperatures in the 20s. Farmers are on alert over predictions of a hard freeze, which occurs when temperatures drop to 27 degrees or below for at least three hours.
The lows are likely to threaten or break temperature records at several locations around west central Florida. The record low for Dec. 14 at Tampa International Airport is 27 degrees, set in 1962.
With the coldest weather still enroute, Monday began ominously enough, with scattered rain and temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s. The biggest culprit, however, was the wind. Gusts approaching 40 mph were reported in several locations, a problem for motorists, particularly on bridges. There were several reports of holiday decorations and traffic cones being blown into roadways, creating another driving hazard.
While temperatures hovered in the 40s around Tampa Bay on Monday morning, the winds made it feel far colder. “People come to Florida because of the sunshsine and the warmth, and when it gets this cold it really grabs your attention,” said Juli Marquez of Bay News 9. Those temperatures aren’t expected to creep much higher throughout the rest of the day. Highs aren’t expected to get much above 50 degrees.
The Tonka Report Editor’s Note: “Um, it’s getting colder now because of global warming!” – Carbonazis
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The Tonka Report 
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