How cold is it going to get? Well, winter’s not finished with us yet.
It might feel like summer this weekend, with highs climbing into the 80s, but don’t get too comfortable. Early next week, temperatures will take another dive, dropping all the way into the 30s. The National Weather Service says Southwest Florida will hit a low of 38 degrees on the morning of February 24.
Here’s what’s coming: a cold front sweeps through Southwest Florida on the night of February 22. Sunday night into Monday morning, you’ll feel those lows dip to around 46 degrees. It gets even colder Tuesday morning, with winds out of the north whipping up to 18 miles per hour.
Just how cold it gets really depends on where high pressure settles after the front moves through. Last time a front rolled through, high pressure built up over Texas, so we never got that real blast of cold air. This time? We’ll see.
Meanwhile, Florida’s stuck in a nasty drought. Almost everywhere you look, it’s dry, and some spots are experiencing extreme drought, according to NOAA. You might hope a cold front would bring some significant rain, but don’t count on it. We’re looking at less than a quarter-inch of rain.
That dryness is an issue, especially since wildfire season is picking up. The risk for big wildfires is highest between now and June, and the landscape is parched right now.
Will we get another cold blast after this? Probably not, at least not a major one. Meteorologists report this front will dry things out even more, bringing in dry air and wind that’ll just suck up whatever moisture’s left in the soil. Since October 1, the area’s running about 10 inches behind on rainfall.
This front could be the last significant cold snap of the season. If so, Southwest Florida might not see temps drop to 45 or below again until December, or even next year.
March is when the temperatures typically warm up. A front is still a possibility, but it rarely comes with this amount of cold temperatures.
For reference, our average high this time of year is 79 degrees, with lows around 57. But starting Sunday night, you’ll notice the change: north winds kick up to 20 miles per hour, and things will feel chilly.
The recent cold snap already left its mark. Dead fish showed up in several places after the chill, especially in shallow lakes and canals. The cold snap severely affected Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers, causing carcasses to float among the plants and wash up along the shore. Fish get into trouble when the water drops below 65 degrees. Below that, if they can’t find warmer water, they die.
Still, we won’t stay cold for long. By Wednesday, temps bounce back, expect a high of 74, and after that, we’re back into the 80s during the day. Just hang in there a little longer. Spring is around the corner.
