Arctic blast brings coldest Christmas in decades

• It’s cold, but Christmas in 1983 was still colder.
• A hard freeze warning is in effect until 9 am Monday for the Big Bend and Panhandle area.

It wasn’t quite a white Christmas for Florida, but it’s definitely a chilly one.

Temperatures dropped down into the 20s early Sunday morning across northern and central Florida and a hard freeze warning is in effect until 9 am Monday for the Big Bend and Panhandle area.

It didn’t break the record for coldest Christmas, although in many areas wind chills may make it feel that way. It’s probably in the top five, behind the Christmas of 1989 and the Christmas cold wave of 1983, which still holds the record for most of the country.

Winter storm updates:Winter storm updates: Widespread freezing temperatures to continue through Christmas; deaths reported

Cold weather and global warming:Freezing temps don’t disprove climate change

Travel:More than 5,000 US flights canceled amid winter storm. What to know about waivers.

Nationwide, the arctic blast has slammed the United States with dangerously cold temperatures and heavy snow, fatal car crashes, thousands of canceled flights and millions at risk for power outages. The National Weather Service on Friday said its warnings and advisories covered about 200 million people – “one of the greatest extents of winter weather warnings and advisories ever,” forecasters said.

Nationwide, officials have attributed at least 18 deaths to the storm as of Sunday morning.

And we’re not done yet. Forecasters expect the huge mass of cold air blanketing the country to continue bringing freezing temperatures into next week.

“Wind chills will still bottom out in the 20s and low 30s Monday and Tuesday morning for most locations in the South outside of south Florida,” a Friday forecast says.

Bitter cold streak continues:Freezing temps, bitter wind chill coming to N. Florida. Here’s what to know, how to prepare

Flight delays, cancellations on Christmas Day

If you’re one of the 112 million people who were planning to travel more than 50 miles for the holidays, as predicted by AAA, check your flights. Thousands of flight delays and cancellations are still in effect.

FlightAware, an online tracker, reported Sunday as of 11:00 am ET, almost 8,500 delays and over 3,000 cancellations for flights within, into or out of the US

What is a bomb cyclone?Essentially, a bomb cyclone is a winter hurricane

FlightAware’s “Misery Map” showed more than 600 delays and almost 300 cancellations seen between 9 am and 1 pm ET Sunday – with Atlanta experiencing the highest number of flight delays and cancellations.

Friday saw even more flights impacted – with FlightAware reporting a total of more than 11,500 US flight delays and over 5,900 US flight cancellations.

The National Weather Service warned of whiteout conditions on roads in the central and eastern US where blizzards occur.

“Travelling in these conditions will be extremely dangerous, to at times impossible,” the National Weather Service said. “You risk becoming stranded and more vulnerable to the bitterly cold weather.”

Pensacola weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

Forecast:

• tonight: Clear, with a low around 28. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values ​​between 20 and 30 early. East wind around 5mph.

Tallahassee weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Tallahassee issued a hard freeze watch across portions of the Big Bend and Panhandle from 6 pm Friday to 9 am Dec. 26, with subfreezing temperatures as low as 17 degrees possible. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Prolonged near-freezing or sub-freezing temperatures could cause additional stress on unprotected outdoor pipes, people, and pets.

brr!Deep freeze ices over Tallahassee on Christmas Eve

Bitter blow:Deep freeze is on the way for north Florida, but don’t expect snow in Tallahassee

Forecast:

• tonight: Areas of frost after 1 am Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 24. Calm wind.
• Sunday: Areas of frost before 9 am Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind.

Jacksonville weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Jacksonville issued a hard freeze watch from midnight to 10 am Sunday and from 1 am to 10 am Monday for northeast and north central Florida. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25 degrees are possible. Frost and hard freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Cold Jacksonville:Coldest Christmas in 33 years is forecast for Jacksonville. Here’s what to expect.

Forecast:

• tonight: Widespread frost after 3 am Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
• Sunday: Widespread frost, mainly before 8 am Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 52. Wind chill values ​​as low as 23 early. North wind around 6mph.

Daytona Beach weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Melbourne issued a freeze watch for portions of Volusia County from late tonight through Monday morning. Freezing temperatures as low as 32 are possible. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
• In addition, northwest breezes of 5 to 10 mph will add a small wind chill to the already cold temperatures across all of east central Florida.
• A high rip current risk is in effect through this evening. Entering the surf is not recommended.

Daytona Brr-ch:Although not record-breaking, temperatures put Volusia under freeze warning on Christmas Eve

Forecast:

• tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Wind chill values ​​as low as 30 early. North wind around 5mph.

Melbourne weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• One more night of freezing or near freezing temperatures tonight with lows in the lower 30s across Lake. Volusia, Seminole and western Orange counties according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Duration of freezing temperatures are forecast to be up to 4 hours so will not be as long as previous nights. The best chance for temperatures to reach 30 to 32 degrees will be across Volusia and north Lake counties. Along the urban corridor from Sanford to Orlando and points south and east, temperatures are expected to remain above freezing in the mid to upper 30s, with 40s along the Treasure coast.

Chilly Christmas:Cold weather greets Treasure Coast residents on Christmas Eve 2022

Forecast:

• tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Port St Lucie weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• One more night of freezing or near freezing temperatures tonight with lows in the lower 30s across Lake. Volusia, Seminole and western Orange counties according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Duration of freezing temperatures are forecast to be up to 4 hours so will not be as long as previous nights. The best chance for temperatures to reach 30 to 32 degrees will be across Volusia and north Lake counties. Along the urban corridor from Sanford to Orlando and points south and east, temperatures are expected to remain above freezing in the mid to upper 30s, with 40s along the Treasure coast.
• A High Risk of life-threatening rip currents will exist at all central Florida Atlantic beaches today. Entering the surf is strongly discouraged.

Brevard cold:Freezing temperatures recorded in Brevard — and the Christmas forecast is even colder

Surfing Santa’s:Hundreds of ‘hardcore’ Surfing Santas brave frigid wind to hit waves in wintry Cocoa Beach

Forecast:

• tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North northwest wind around 5 mph.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

West Palm Beach weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Miami issued a hazardous weather outlook for Atlantic, Biscayne Bay, South Florida, Gulf of Mexico and Lake Okeechobee. Wind chills in the lower 30s will linger into the early afternoon across Glades and Hendry counties. These counties are also likely to see wind chills in the lower 30s again late tonight. Gusty north-northwesterly winds and elevated seas over the Gulf Stream will continue over the Atlantic waters this morning. Conditions will gradually improve this afternoon.
• There is a high risk of rip currents across the Palm Beaches. There is a moderate risk of rip currents across the remaining South Florida beaches.
• Spotty coastal flooding will be possible around this morning’s high tide on the Palm Beach and Broward county coastlines.
• Wind chills in the lower 30’s are possible early Monday morning across Glades and Hendry counties. The rip current risk may decrease Monday into Tuesday but will likely increase again on the east coast mid-week as onshore flow increases.

West Palm weather:Arctic bulldozer to bring polar air into Sunshine State for Christmas

Forecast:

• tonight: A chance of sprinkles before 7 pm Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. North wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Naples weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Miami issued a hazardous weather outlook. The chances of thunderstorms will increase later this afternoon into this evening. Some of the thunderstorms could be strong to severe especially north of Alligator Alley. The strongest thunderstorms could contain gusty winds, heavy downpours, and an isolated tornado over Southwest Florida tonight. The strongest thunderstorms later this afternoon into this evening could contain wind gusts to 60 mph. The strongest thunderstorms could produce an isolated waterspout in the Gulf waters as well as Lake Okeechobee this evening.

Strong cold frontStrong cold front to drop temps in the 30s to Southwest Florida for Christmas

Forecast:

• tonight: A chance of sprinkles before 7 pm Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. North wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Fort Myers weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Tampa Bay has issued no watches or warnings but did warn residents the expected cold front will bring very cold temperatures “by local standards” to the area over the holiday weekend.

SWFL to feel much lower tempsStrong cold front to drop temps in the 30s to Southwest Florida for Christmas

Forecast:

• tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 6 mph.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Wind chill values ​​as low as 36 early. NE wind 6 to 8 mph.

Sarasota weather radar, Monday forecast

Watches and warnings in effect

• The National Weather Service Tampa Bay has issued no watches or warnings but did warn residents the expected cold front will bring very cold temperatures “by local standards” to the area over the holiday weekend.

Coldest in 20 yearsColdest Christmas in 20 years forecast for Sarasota and Manatee counties

Forecast:

• tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Wind chill values ​​as low as 32 early. NE wind around 9 mph.

Contributors: Joel Shannon, Thao Nguyen, Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY; Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

The post Arctic blast brings coldest Christmas in decades first appeared on Daily Florida Press.