Blog

By Joe Callahan

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Posted May 20, 2019 at 10:33 AMUpdated May 20, 2019 at 6:51 PM   

Temps in Marion and Alachua counties expected near record levels. Combined with little rain, officials raise concerns about wildfires.

Extreme heat is expected to increase all week, with the Sunday afternoon high temperature expected to reach nearly 100 degrees in Marion and Alachua counties.

The heat wave is due to a rain-blocking high pressure system that is positioned over the Southeastern United States.

Though residents of both counties will experience above-normal high temperatures, the daily highs will fall short of all-time records, according to more than a century of weather records maintained by the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.

On Sunday, predicted to be the hottest day, the expected high in Gainesville is 98 degrees, just shy of the 100-degree record for May 26, which was set in 1953.

On Sunday, the expected high in Ocala is predicted to be 97 degrees, five degrees shy of the 102-degree record for May 26, which was set in 1962.

Though the temperatures will not hit record highs each day, it will be much hotter than normal throughout the week.

From Tuesday through Sunday, the average daily high temperature in Gainesville is expected to be 94.7 degrees, 6.4 degrees higher than the 88.3-degree historic average for the same date range.

The average afternoon high temperature in Ocala is expected to be 94.2 degrees during that same span, 2.9 degrees higher than the 91.3-degree historic average.

With the expected extreme heat and little rain, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville issued a statement about increased concern for wildfires this week.

“There remains elevated wildfire potential through the Memorial Day weekend due to hot temps, low humidity and sparse rainfall,” said Angie Enyedi, a senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.

Enyedi issued graphics that show there is low ground moisture, especially along the Interstate 10 corridor northward. The big concern is that any spark could trigger a wildfire, especially during Memorial Day weekend. Officials said fireworks, campfires, grills and cigarettes could ignite a fire if residents are not careful.

The National Weather Service also noted that National Safe Boating Week runs from May 18-24. The service has partnered with the National Safe Boating Council, a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, to help promote safe boating practices. The council’s website — www.safeboatingcouncil.org — offers free resources such as infographics, videos, audio clips, fact sheets and more.

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

posted 5.14.19

From the National Wether Service

By Joe Callahan   

The Marion and Alachua County area is at “enhanced” risk, which means wind up to 70 mph is possible, as well as isolated tornadoes.

The National Weather Service is warning that this part of Florida could see extreme weather on Friday and that residents can expect dangerous wind and the threat of tornadoes.

Officials in the Jacksonville weather office said an area between Gainesville and Ocala could receive the worst of the thunderstorms from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., while southern Marion County is expected to feel the brunt through 6 p.m.

Weather service officials placed Alachua and Marion counties on the third level of a five-tier scale for severe weather. The area is at “enhanced” risk, which means wind up to 70 mph is possible, as well as isolated tornadoes.

“Numerous severe storms are possible,” the alert says.

Preston Bowlin, Marion County emergency management director, reported via email Wednesday night that his office will be monitoring the situation until the threat leaves the area.

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/southeast_loop.php

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Following him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

By Joe Callahan 
 

When the storm made landfall at Mexico Beach on Oct. 10 of last year, its winds were 160 mph, the National Hurricane Center has determined.

Hurricane Michael has been upgraded to a Category 5, the most intense on the five-tier scale, at the point it made landfall last year near Panama City, according to the National Hurricane Center.

National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said in an email Friday that “scientists at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center conducted a detailed post-storm analysis on all the data available for Hurricane Michael and have determined that the storm’s estimated intensity at landfall was 140 knots (160 mph).”

This final wind intensity is a 5 mph increase over the original estimate and “makes Michael a category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale at the time of landfall (on the Florida Panhandle) on Oct. 10 near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base.”

The storm claimed 72 lives, including 57 in the United States.

The means Michael became only the fourth Category 5 hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States. The others are the “The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935,” Camille in 1969 and Andrew in 1992.

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

Blaze has been cold these last few mornings with more to come for the rest of week but nothing compared to north part of the Country. Here is an Associated Press report.

By Ivan Moreno and Blake Nicholson / The Associated Press 

Posted at 8:59 AM Updated at 11:36 AM  

“You’re talking about frostbite and hypothermia issues very quickly, like in a matter of minutes, maybe seconds,” said meteorologist Brian Hurley.

MILWAUKEE — Hundreds of schools and several large universities closed their campuses Tuesday as temperatures plummeted across the Midwest, with forecasters warning that the frigid weather will get worse and could be life-threatening.

The extreme cold and record-breaking temperatures are crawling into a swath of states spanning from North Dakota to Missouri and into Ohio after a powerful snowstorm pounded the region earlier this week.

Arctic air early Tuesday dropped temperatures in the Dakotas and Minnesota to as low as minus 27 degrees, with wind chills as cold as minus 59.

“You’re talking about frostbite and hypothermia issues very quickly, like in a matter of minutes, maybe seconds,” said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.

Among the universities closed into Thursday are the University of South Dakota, Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota. Minneapolis Public Schools officials also canceled classes through Wednesday, when the region is expected to experience frigidly low temperatures not seen in a quarter century. Hundreds of Michigan schools were closed Tuesday, including in Detroit, while Chicago Public Schools canceled Wednesday classes because of the anticipated cold snap.

Closing schools for an extended stretch isn’t an easy decision, even though most school districts build potential makeup days into their schedules to provide flexibility, said Josh Collins, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Education.

“Many students, they might have two working parents, so staying home might mean they’re not supervised,” Collins said. “For some low-income students, the lunch they receive at school might be their most nutritious meal of the day.”

Subzero temperatures hit some states Tuesday, but Wednesday is expected to be the worst. Wind chills in northern Illinois could fall to negative 55 degrees , which the National Weather Service called “possibly life threatening.”

Minnesota temperatures could hit minus 30 degrees with a wind chill of negative 60.

The potentially record-breaking low temperature forecast in Milwaukee is negative 28 degrees, with a wind chill as low as negative 50. The current record of minus 26 degrees was set in 1996.

“That’s 40 degrees below normal,” Hurley said.

The unusually frigid weather is attributed to a sudden warming far above the North Pole . A blast of warm air from misplaced Moroccan heat last month made the normally super chilly air temperatures above the North Pole rapidly increase. That split the polar vortex into pieces, which then started to wander, said Judah Cohen, a winter storm expert for Atmospheric Environmental Research.

One of those polar vortex pieces is responsible for the subzero temperatures across the Midwest this week.

The Chicago Zoological Society said it was closing the Brookfield Zoo on Wednesday and Thursday — marking only the fourth time the zoo has closed during its 85-year history — to ensure the safety of its employees and animals. At O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, the high temperature Wednesday is expected to be negative 14 degrees, which would break a record set on Jan. 18, 1994.

Homeless shelters were also preparing for the onslaught of cold. The Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s call volume was “unusually high,” but officials said there should still be enough beds for those who need them.

In Minneapolis, charitable groups that operate warming places and shelters were expanding hours and capacity “as they do whenever dangerous extreme temperature events occur,” said Hennepin County Emergency Management Director Eric Waage. He said ambulance crews were handling all outside response incidents as being potentially life-threatening.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said city agencies are making sure homeless people are in shelters or offered space in warming buses. He also urged residents to check on their neighbors and take safety precautions.

Cold weather advisories are in effect across a broad swath of the central U.S., from North Dakota to Missouri and spanning into Ohio. Temperatures will be as many as 20 degrees below average in parts of the Upper Great Lakes region and Upper Mississippi Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

On Monday, snowplow drivers had trouble keeping up with the snowfall in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where some areas got as much as 15 inches of snow.

Rare snowfall was also forecast for some southern states.

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Nicholson reported from Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press reporters Caryn Rousseau in Chicago, Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee and David Runk in Detroit, and AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.

 1982 – 0200-1200 – Florida Peninsula – High Winds – A strong cold front sweeping across the Florida Peninsula was accompanied by high winds and brief heavy rains. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph were reported over most of the peninsula with gusts up to 60 mph. Tornadoes were reported in Lee and Hendry Counties. There was widespread minor damage with downed power lines, large trees toppled, and many signs blown over. Some roof damage was also reported along with damage to patio screens, carports, and tool sheds. Heaviest damage was along the Florida West Coast where onshore winds produced high tides and some beach erosion.

 1981- statewide – Severe Freeze with low temperatures of 8 degrees at Tallahassee, 14 at Gainesville, 11 at Ocala, 20 at Orlando, and 18 at Avon Park reported.

 1992 – 0205 – Gadsden Co. – Downburst winds struck north of Quincy, peeling the roofs off two adjacent mobile homes.

 1886 – statewide – Severe Freeze with low temperatures of 12 degrees at Tallahassee, 16 at Gainesville, 18 at Ocala and 19 at Orlando reported.

1964 – morning hours – Central Florida – Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms associated with a vigorous squall line struck Duval, Marion, Polk, Volusia, Lake Counties. Many trees uprooted and antennas and signs blown down. Some damage occurred to windows and commercial buildings. No serious injuries.

 1975 – 1020 – Noon – Bay, Calhoun & Jackson Counties – Tornado first reported in Panama City suburbs moved northeast through Bay, Calhoun, and Jackson Counties. A week old baby was killed in a mobile home northeast of Panama City. Ten homes destroyed, 25 damaged, several mobile homes and cars destroyed. Eighteen injuries – most (15) in Jackson Co.