2010 - 2011

2010 ends with partly cloudy sky and near average temperatures. 2011 starts with patchy fog and haze followed by partly cloudy sky and a warm afternoon. - Jim

Cloudy

Mid and upper level clouds will be thinning and leaving tonight. I expect more sun and a continuation of the warming trend tomorrow. - Jim

Kicked out the cold

After enduring three arctic blasts this month...we have kicked out the cold with a much more mild start to the day. Lows are running on average 15 degrees warmer than those of yesterday morning! We have more warmth, but also more cloud cover due to an upper-level disturbance that will pass through the Southeast. More sunshine will be revealed for the second half of the afternoon as the disturbance moves east. Despite the increased cloud cover, high temperatures will reach to their warmest of the week with mid 70's this afternoon.

As a result of this December's frigid spells...morning lows fell into the 30's, 8 times in Ft. Myers! But we'll end the month on a warm note with highs near 80 degrees tomorrow.

Enjoy the warmth!
Lauren

Ahhhhhhh

The warm up has begun and I don't see any more extra cold air for at least the next 7 days and nights. Enjoy! - Jim

The cold continues...but not for much longer

It's another frigid, bone-chilling start to the day! Record lows were tied in both Ft. Myers and in Naples this morning! A low of 37 degrees in Ft. Myers tied the modern day record set in 1928 (there is a record of 24 degrees from 1894) and a low of 38 degrees in Naples tied the record low established in 1977. Widespread frost was again reported across the area as far west as Naples Park! WINK viewers also reported frost in Lehigh Acres, La Belle, and in Arcadia.

This morning is the last of the extra-cold mornings for the foreseeable future! A change in our surface wind flow to a southerly direction this afternoon will begin the warm-up and tomorrow we can leave the gloves and scarves behind as temperatures will not be nearly as cold with mid 50's along the coast to mid 40's inland.

Lauren

Cold again tonight! 20s inland 30s to the beaches! Big warm up starts tomorrow afternoon.

You will see frost tomorrow morning as many areas fall into the 20s and 30s. 20s east of Interstate 75, upper 30s west of US 41. This will be the last cold morning for at least ten days. Warmer weather begins to move in tomorrow afternoon. We should see temperatures back in the upper 60s and low 70s. Looks like low 80s by Saturday and Sunday!

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Record Low

After a record low of 34 degrees this morning a gradual warm up has begun. Having said that......it will still be cold tonight with lows in the upper 30's with scattered frost. - Jim

One more extra-cold night tonight...

Keep the pets and plants where they are indoors, as one more bitterly cold night is ahead. Expect temperatures in the low 40's along the coast to upper 20's inland. Freeze Warnings are in effect for DeSoto, Highlands, Hendry and Glades counties tonight into 9am tomorrow morning. With the cold temperatures and a calm wind, widespread frost is again likely so have that ice scraper on hand for the car windshield tomorrow morning...and of course if you spot any frost, snap a picture and send it to weather@winktv.com!

And thanks to all of the WINK viewers that sent in the great photos of frost and ice this morning!

Lauren

Another arctic blast underway...

Teeth-chattering, record-breaking temperatures have returned to SWFL! This morning in Ft. Myers the temperature dropped to 34 degrees which breaks the record low of 36 degrees set back in 1977. Frost, heavy in some locations, has been reported by viewers in Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Rotonda West, La Belle, and Arcadia! Nearly all of our inland locations saw the mercury fall into the 20's this morning with the coldest of the cold reading in Palmdale at 21 degrees!

Stay warm,
Lauren

The Last Blast of 2010

If you remember we talked about how the Negative Arctic Oscillation was acting up two weeks ago. There is usually a two week lag from the Ocillation and the arrival of the cold air, so this post Christmas blast was expected. The good news (for warm weather fans) is that the AO may leave us alone for awhile. Tonight will be just about as cold as the last cold spell that delivered 33 degrees in Ft. Myers and 20's inland. - Jim

Here we go again...

Arctic blast number three of the season has arrived in SWFL! Temperatures this morning were downright cold dropping to 39 degrees in both Ft. Myers and in Naples with lows near 30 degrees reported inland including in La Belle, Alva and Lehigh Acres and tonight...is going to be even colder...on the order of 5-10 degrees!

A Freeze Warning is effect tonight until 9am tomorrow morning for all inland counties as well as all of Collier county, a Freeze Watch is effect tonight into tomorrow morning for Lee and Charlotte counties as overnight lows will drop into the mid to upper 20's east of I-75 with some isolated temperatures in the low 20's deep inland. Expect temperatures along the coast in the mid to upper 30's by early tomorrow morning.

The extremely cold temps in combination with a light wind will also be conducive to the development of areas of frost so have that ice scraper, that has already gotten an usual work-out this month, ready...again! And of course bring the potted plants indoors, cover outdoor sensitive vegetation, and bring Fido and Kitty inside today as temperatures will be falling fast after sunset this evening.

Temperatures have fallen into the 30's in Ft. Myers 6 times so far this month! The coldest morning of 33 degrees occurred on the 15th...a forecast low of 32 degrees tonight would be the coldest temperature of the season and would also destroy the record low of 36 degrees set in 1977.

Stay warm!
Lauren

Cities that may see a White Christmas!

Many folks across parts of the Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and even the Southeast may see their dreams of a white Christmas come true! A far-southerly tracking area of low pressure may create a snowy scene in places which rarely experience a white Christmas such as Atlanta, GA which has only seen measurable snowfall on the holiday two times in history! Then last time the Christmas snow was white on the ground in Charlotte, NC was over 60 years ago! In 1947, 5.8 inches of snow fell on Charlotte, NC with the only other occurrences of a white Christmas in 1909 (0.2 inches) and 1880 (4 inches)!

White Christmas possible for:

-Chicago, IL
-Detroit, MI
-Indianapolis, IN
-Columbus, OH
-Pittsburgh, PA
-Charleston, WV
-Roanoke, VA
-Charlotte, NC
-Greenville, SC
-Nashville, TN
-Lexington, KY
-Atlanta, GA
-Huntsville, AL

Merry Christmas!
Lauren

Areas of fog across SWFL

We're experiencing a surge of warmth and surface moisture in advance of a dry cold front...the additional moisture is contributing to the development of areas of fog across SWFL this morning thus leading to reduced visibilities:

Current visibilities:

Ft. Myers: 6 miles

Punta Gorda: 5 miles

SWFL International: 7 miles

Naples: 9 miles

Local visibilities may drop below one mile over the next 2 hours especially inland. Be extra cautious when driving this morning!

Lauren

Weak cold front arriving in the morning. Some clouds and fog, then a sunny sky by the afternoon.

A weak front will bring us a mostly cloudy start to your Thursday! No rain expected with this, just slightly cooler weather behind. The next big cool down will be Sunday night after a stronger cold front moves through. This front will bring us rain Sunday morning, then windy weather by the afternoon. Overnight lows will fall into the 30's by Tuesday morning. Could see another freeze in our inland areas.

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

A chilly start to the first day of winter

A crystal clear sky overnight made for perfect viewing weather of the total lunar eclipse! Though you definitely needed to bundle up to head out and witness the eclipse as temperatures dropped into the low to mid 40's across the area early this morning...and you still need that coat with a chilly start in progress for the first day of winter! The winter solstice will occur at 6:38pm this evening, officially ringing in the winter season...but despite the change in season ...highs will be warmer this afternoon into the low 70s, with mid 70s in store for tomorrow afternoon all under abundant sunshine.

Happy winter!
Lauren

Lunar eclipse tonight, clear and cold overnight, but warmer weather on the way!

Cold again overnight, but highs in the 70s for your Tuesday! Also look above, a lunar eclipse will take place tonight. Totality will be from 2:41am to 3:53am. This is the first time a lunar eclipse fell on the winter solstice since 1638. The winter solstice is at 6:38pm Tuesday. So tonight is the longest night of the year.

 

Plenty of sun through the week will warm us up into the upper 70s by Thursday and Friday.

 

Cold front arrives Christmas Day, chance of rain then.

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Winter Solstice and Total Lunar Eclipse Come Hand-in-Hand This Year!

This year's winter solstice (official start to winter) will coincide with a total lunar eclipse...in a union that hasn't been seen in 456 years! Both the solstice and the lunar eclipse will occur tomorrow, Tuesday, the 21st though at different times of the day. You can't see the solstice...but it will occur at 6:38 pm tomorrow evening meaning that the winter season officially begins...winter solstice occurs when the Sun's most direct rays hit on a latitudinal position of the Earth known as the Tropic of Capricorn...it's basically the time of year when the sun's most direct rays are the farthest away from us!

Also happening tomorrow, or really late tonight, something we can see...a total lunar eclipse! A total lunar eclipse is when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's shadow, blocking the sun's rays from striking the Moon. The Moon does not completely disappear as it passes through the Earth's shadow because of refraction of sunlight through atmosphere...if the Earth had no atmosphere, the Moon would be completely dark during an eclipse. Instead, the Moon will appear dimmed and may take on a reddish hue due the scattering of sunlight by air molecules and atmospheric particles. A lunar eclipse can only occur when there is a full Moon. The eclipse will begin at 1:33 am when the Moon begins to enter the Earth's shadow. At 2:41 am, the Moon will become totally eclipsed and remain such until 3:53 am. The best time to view the total eclipse will be during the eclipse's midpoint which occurs at 3:17 am. The entire eclipse will then come to an end at 5:01 am...just in time for WINK News Now this morning!

Sky conditions across SWFL will be perfect for viewing the eclipse very early tomorrow morning with a crystal clear sky in the forecast...but you'll have to bundle up when heading out to take in the view with temperatures in the 40's and upper 30's inland...and if you brave the early hour and the chilly temps to view the total lunar eclipse...be sure to snap some pictures and send them to weather@winktv.com!

Hope to see some great pics of the eclipsed Moon!
Lauren

A chilly start, a cool afternoon

We need that jacket this morning with a chilly temperatures in the 40's to start to the work week! The cloud deck that remained in place overnight is eroding as drier air moves southbound. Clear sky conditions are presently being reported at Page Field in Ft. Myers, but overcast in Naples though over the next hour or two a clear sky will be revealed across Collier county as well...and bright sunshine is in store for all of SWFL for our Monday afternoon...high temperatures on the cool side, in the mid to upper 60's.

Have a great Monday!
Lauren

Happy weekend! More clouds tomorrow with some rain with the next cold front. Clearing Sunday! Not as cold behind this one.

The cold front arrives late Saturday into early Sunday! We will increase the clouds and the rain chances go up by the afternoon. I am not expecting a lot of rain with this one, on average .10" to .15". Highs will be in the upper 70's. Sunday we will start off with some fog and clouds, but clearing by the afternoon. Not as cold behind this one as temperatures do fall into the 40s by Monday morning. Warmer weather back on Tuesday!

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Another Front

Milder tonight with lows in the 50's. Becoming cloudy tomorrow with a few showers. After the next cold front it will turn colder Sunday night. - Jim

A much more mild start to the day!

Temperatures this morning are running about 15 degrees warmer than those we felt yesterday morning...in the low 50s with mid 40s the chilliest numbers in areas inland. Some fog reported this morning, mainly east of I-75, but that fog will continue to dissipate over the next hour...otherwise look for bright sunshine to kick off the last day of the work week!

We continue to warm this afternoon into the mid to upper 70s! But if you're headed to the beach today, pack a sweat jacket, as a southwesterly wind this afternoon will push cooler air from over the 55 degree waters of the Gulf on-shore thus expect temps in the 60s at the coast later today.

Enjoy leaving the heavy winter coat at home!
Lauren

You need that heavy winter coat again this morning...

and maybe the ice scraper as well as frost is again being reported across parts of SWFL. Temperatures this morning are still very cold running from the mid 40s along the coast to just below the freezing mark in some inland locations...but it's not as frigid as yesterday morning as we're feeling about 5 degrees "warmer" than 24 hours ago. So far for the month of December, all of the morning lows in Ft. Myers have been below the average!

You can lose that heavy coat this afternoon, as a shift to a southerly wind flow and abundant sunshine will warm temperatures into the upper 60s to low 70s! And tonight, the cold snap breaks with overnight lows not nearly as cold with upper 50s along the coast to mid to upper 40s inland.

Enjoy the warmer temps this afternoon!
Lauren

Turning the corner

It will not be as cold tonight as it was this morning:

Low Temperatures This Morning:

Palmdale: 22 degrees

Lake Placid: 25 degrees

La Belle: 26 degrees

Alva: 27 degrees

Golden Gate: 27 degrees

Immokalee: 28 degrees

Punta Gorda: 28 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 29 degrees

Ft. Myers: 33 (ties record set in 1944)

Cape Coral: 34 degrees

Naples: 36 degrees

Afternoon temperatures should recover into the low 70s by Thursday afternoon. - Jim

Record-breaking, freezing cold this morning!

With lighter winds overnight, temperatures this morning were even colder...with a record-smashing 28 degrees in Punta Gorda this morning...the old record: 35 degrees! And the coldest point in SWFL...an unbelievable 22 degrees in Palmdale! Brrrrr!

Low Temperatures This Morning:

Palmdale: 22 degrees

Lake Placid: 25 degrees

La Belle: 26 degrees

Alva: 27 degrees

Golden Gate: 27 degrees

Immokalee: 28 degrees

Punta Gorda: 28 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 29 degrees

Ft. Myers: 33 (ties record set in 1944)

Cape Coral: 34 degrees

Naples: 36 degrees


Feeling better this afternoon...still below-average, but warmer than yesterday afternoon, with highs today in the upper 50's to low 60's under abundant sunshine. Lighter afternoon winds will help us feel warmer as well.

Have a great day!
Lauren

Even colder this morning!

As anticipated, a light wind overnight has allowed temperatures to cool more efficiently than yesterday's when wind speeds were in the 10-15 mph range...as if it wasn't cold enough yesterday morning! Also watch for the development of frost this morning...and if you spot any frosty areas be sure to snap a picture and send to us at weather@winktv.com!

Frigid current temperatures:

Palmdale: 23 degrees!

La Belle: 26 degrees

Golden Gate: 27 degrees

Alva: 27 degrees

Moore Haven: 28 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 29 degrees

Punta Gorda: 30 degrees (breaks record of 35 set in 2004)

Immokalee: 30 degrees

Ft. Myers: 34 degrees

Naples: 37 degrees


Bundle up!
Lauren

COLD! With the wind easing up tonight, frost in the forecast! Prepare again for below freezing temps!

Once again a cold night ahead. I am a little more worried about tonight. The air mass that has moved in today is very dry. Dewpoints are in the single digits, yesterday at this time dewpoints where in the 30s. This very dry air mass will cool off quickly as the sun sets. Hard freeze warnings in effect for inland areas and Charlotte county. Freeze warnings in effect to the coast. With the wind calming down overnight temperatures will drop to below freezing in many locations. Once we get below 38, frost will form in many locations too. The frost is what will do the most damage early in the morning. Best bet is to knock that frost off before the sun comes up to protect any plants. As the frost acts as a magnifying glass burning the leaves.

 

We do start a warming trend by Wednesday afternoon. Highs in the low 60s with another cold front Saturday. Not as cold behind this front.

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

C Ya Weeds

Tonight will be a little colder in most areas. Since there will be less wind there should be more frost, even close to the coast. Tomorrow morning the Farrells will run the self cleaning oven for heat (why do it when its hot outside?) and I think I will NOT run my sprinklers tonight. I want the frost to kill my weeds. Sorry weeds, ya had a nice run. - Jim

Get ready for round two of bone-chilling temperatures plus frost likely tonight!

This morning, temperatures across SWFL dipped into the upper 20s in most locations inland, and ranged in the low to upper 30s near the coast...with wind chill values making it feel 5-8 degrees colder than the mercury reading reflected! The official low temperature at Page Field in Ft. Myers was 34 degrees. And this second cold blast of the season will continue to affect Southwest Florida tonight...

Where wind speeds made it feel colder last night, with a clear sky and relatively calm winds tonight, temperatures will drop to levels at or a few degrees below those we felt this morning. Freeze Warnings are again in effect for coastal communities with Hard Freezing Warnings in effect for inland communities. Temperatures in Ft. Myers will drop to near freezing with inland communities returning to the mid-upper 20s. 

Along with the freezing and sub-freezing temperatures tonight, the relaxing winds will cause a concern for the development of widespread frost.  Any unprotected tender vegetation could experience damage if not brought indoors or properly protected.

Stay warm...again!
Lauren

A frigid, teeth-chattering, record-breaking cold morning...

It is freezing in SWFL! And with northerly wind at 10-15 mph, wind chills values are making it feel 5-8 degrees colder than the current temperatures reflect! Thus a Wind Chill Warning remains in effect for all of SWFL until 10am. A Hard Freeze Warning remains in effect for all inland counties until 9am and a Freeze Warning for Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties until 9am.

Current temperatures:

Lake Placid: 26 degrees

Arcadia: 27 degrees

Palmdale: 27 degrees

La Belle: 27 degrees

Moore Haven: 27 degrees

Punta Gorda: 32 degrees (breaks record of 36 degrees set in 1969)

Alva: 32 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 32 degrees

Golden Gate: 33 degrees

Cape Coral: 35 degrees

Ft. Myers: 35 degrees

Naples: 38 degrees

Sanibel: 38 degrees


Be sure to bundle up,
Lauren

Cold air has arrived! 20s in many location inland, 30s to the coast! Freeze warnings in effect. Two nights like this!

Well the very cold air mass has arrived! Hard freeze warnings in effect for all inland areas (East of Interstate 75). Freeze warning to the coast, expection coastal Collier County. With that in mind, you will need to protect you plants and animals. Also have a wind chill warning for all of SWFL until 9am Tuesday morning.

 

The good news tonight is that the wind will stay up. That means no frost is in the forecast as the wind keeps the air moving. However, Wednesday morning the wind becomes calm, so frost will occur across much of SWFL. It may feel colder Tuesday morning, but Wednesday morning may cause the most damage to plants.

 

This extra cold weather will be here through Wednesday morning. Warmer weather will start Thursday afternoon as we make our way into the low 70s.

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Ice is not Nice

A Freeze Warning and a Wind Chill Warning is in effect for SWFL tonight through tomorrow morning. Glades, Hendry and Highlands go one better, a Hard Freeze warning tonight. Get ready for two nights with low temperatures near 32 up and down US 41. Lots to say tonight at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. - Jim

Hard Freeze Warning

A Hard Freeze Warning is in effect for all inland counties until 9am tomorrow morning. Temperatures will fall into the low to upper 20's tonight and persist into tomorrow morning.

Arctic air blasting into SWFL...even colder than last week's temps...

Another arctic air mass is plowing into SWFL and we'll feel the effects tonight as the coldest of the cold air this season will arrive. Overnight lows will dip below freezing in Ft. Myers with widespread 20's east of I-75! A Freeze Warning is in effect tonight until 9am tomorrow morning. A Hard Freeze Warning is in effect for DeSoto and Highlands counties. A Wind Chill Warning is in effect for much of the area tonight until 10am tomorrow morning. The extremely cold temperatures tonight will threaten sensitive outdoor vegetation...be sure to move potted plants indoors and the vegetation that you cannot move, cover with cloth. And also be sure to BUNDLE UP! Wind chills late tonight into early tomorrow possible in the low 20's and even teens inland!

More on the brutally frigid weather coming up on WINK News Now @ 11am on 6TV.

Stay warm!!
Lauren

Finally warmer

After a very cold week, it is finally warmer right now. While it will be cold tonight, we should have even warmer weather by tomorrow afternoon. A new cold front arrives on Sunday with a shower or two. - Jim

No rain this morning...but still cold!

Much to our relief, we're waking up to a clear sky across SWFL this Friday morning...we've gotten rid of the rain but the chilly air is definitely still in place with temperatures in the mid 40's. Brrrr! So we're donning the heavy winter coat, the gloves and the hat as we have each morning this winter-y week as our average morning low from Monday through Thursday is a chilly 42 degrees! But we can lose the coat this afternoon as improvement is in store with highs in the upper 60's to 70 degrees under plentiful sunshine.

Still cool, but not as cold starting out on our Saturday with low 50's. Watch out for some areas of fog early but by mid morning and through the day we'll again see abundant sunshine and warming up even further into the mid 70s! If you want to get a walk or run in on Sunday...head out in the morning as the sky will be mostly sunny but clouds will increase into the afternoon with showers possible and windy conditions picking up as another cold front pushes into SWFL.

Have a great Friday!
Lauren

 

Rain in over and the clouds are clearing! Cold again tonight, but warmer weather on the way!

Yuck what a day! Highs only reached the upper 50's and the clouds took there time leaving us. We have .25" of rain on average early this morning and into the afternoon. Now that the clouds are clearing we will see temperatures drop to the middle to low 40s across the region.

 

Tomorrow with a sunny sky highs should work back into the upper 60s and low 70s. This warmer weather will last into the weekend. Sunday the breezy weather arrives ahead of the next cold front. We will see rain late Sunday into overnight Monday. Then cold weather again for Monday and Tuesday. But this time it will be just a two day cold snap.

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Clearing, cold tonight

The rain is moving away after we received about .25" on average. Next up, clear sky tonight and very cold by morning as temperatures drop to the 40's. Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday afternoons should feature highs in the 70's, but it won't last as colder air returns Sunday night. - Jim

Cold...and it's raining!

Our morning weather makes you want to stay in bed and pull the covers back over your head...no temps in the 30's but we're in the chilly 40's and it's raining! Areas of light continue to move across SWFL this morning...the rainfall intensity will remain on the light side as much of the rain is evaporating before reaching the surface as it encounters this very dry air mass in place. But the light rain and the cold temps are certainly a recipe for misery this morning...the rain will come to an end by early afternoon with a clearing sky thereafter. Highs today still very cool only near 60 degrees and we'll be cold again tonight...mid 40's but no rain just a mainly clear sky. And Friday will be a much more pleasant day with mostly sunny conditions and highs into the low 70's!

Highest rainfall totals thus far:

Ft. Myers (WINK): .21"

Pine Island: .19"

Punta Gorda: .18"

San Carlos Park: .18"

Cape Coral: .16"

Sanibel: .10"

Stay warm...and dry!
Lauren

Coldest behind us, for now....

It will not be quite as cold tonight, although lows in the 40's still is cold to us. Looks like you will wake up to clouds and a possible shower as an upper air disturbance crosses over SW Florida. I don't expect much rain and some spots will not get any. The weekend actually looks warmer, highs in the 70's. Beyond the weekend, it gets real cold again by Monday night. - Jim

Cool afternoon, still chilly but not as cold tonight

It was a literally frosty cold start to the day with many places across SWFL reporting frost on cars and grassy areas this morning as overnight lows fell to record levels in the 20's and 30's for a second day in a row! High temperatures will warm into the 60's later this afternoon, slighter warmer, but still 15 degrees below the average. Tonight, increasing clouds in advance of an upper level disturbance will help hold temperatures up...we'll still feel chilly but not nearly as cold with lows in the mid 40's. A few showers are possible late tonight through the first part of the day tomorrow due to the disturbance and an area of low pressure passing to our west.

Have a great day!
Lauren

Current temperature update

Palmdale: 27 degrees

Lake Placid: 29 degrees

Alva: 30 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 32 degrees

Punta Gorda: 32 degrees

Arcadia: 32 degrees

Immokalee: 33 degrees

Golden Gate: 35 degrees

Cape Coral: 38 degrees

Ft. Myers: 39 degrees

Naples: 39 degrees (breaks record of 42 degrees)

*Frost being reported in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres, and NE Cape Coral


-Lauren

It's another cold, frigid, freezing start to the day!

Feeling the effects as an arctic air mass remains in place across SWFL with another round of brutally cold temperatures this morning...and with lighter winds, lows will drop near to or a degree colder than yesterday's! The lighter winds will also be more conducive to the development of frost especially inland. If you do spot any frost, be sure to snap a picture and send it to weather@winktv.com!

Some Current Temperatures:

Lake Placid: 29 degrees

Alva: 30 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 31 degrees

Golden Gate: 31 degrees

Immokalee: 31 degrees

Arcadia: 32 degrees

Palmdale: 33 degrees

Punta Gorda: 35 degrees

Cape Coral: 39 degrees

Ft. Myers: 40 degrees

Naples: 42 degrees


Stay warm!
Lauren

Cold again tonight. You may see some frost in some wind protected areas.

The cold weather still grips SWFL. This morning we woke up to 38 in Fort Myers and 39 in Naples. Our inland areas started off in the low 30s, with frost being reported in La Belle and Port Charlotte. Highs today onlt got into the upper 50s. Tomorrow morning much of the same with, but may even see lower temperatures as the wind will be calm in some locations. So with that in mind, expect scattered frost in many areas, mainly inland.

 

Rain is in the forecast too. An upper level low will puch through late Wednesday into Thursday morning. This will bring us, on average, .25" of rain. After this moves through, we will see temperatures warming up into the weekend. Low 70s for highs on saturday and sunday.

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

A is for Arctic

It will be just as cold tonight as last night with the Arctic air mass firmly in place. That means upper 30's in Ft. Myers/Naples and sub freezing temperatures from Palmdale to Immokalee. A mini warm-up will begin tomorrow afternoon with a few showers Thursday morning. - Jim

Round 1 of frigid air done, round 2 in store tonight!

It was a frigid, record-breaking cold start to the day...

Notable Tuesday Morning Lows:

Palmdale: 22 degrees!

Lake Placid: 28 degrees

Alva: 31 degrees

La Belle: 32 degrees (breaks record, patchy frost reported)

Lehigh Acres: 32 degrees

Port Charlotte: 33 degrees (patchy frost reported)

Arcadia: 32 degrees

Punta Gorda: 38 degrees

Ft. Myers: 38 degrees

Cape Coral: 39 degrees

Naples: 39 degrees (breaks record)

And another round of extremely cold weather is in store for tonight! Temperatures will be similar to those we experienced this morning with widespread 30's and some upper 20's for parts of DeSoto, Highlands, and Glades counties. Patchy frost is possible especially inland as winds will be light overnight. A Freeze Warning is in effect again tonight for SWFL through 9am Wednesday morning. So keep Fido indoors, keep the potted plants inside and keep the outdoor sensitive vegetation covered with clothes. And be sure to bundle up when heading out tomorrow morning!

Please submit any frost reports to weather@winktv.com

Keep the gloves on hand!
Lauren

Current temperature update

Palmdale: 26 degrees

Lake Placid: 29 degrees

Alva: 31 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 31 degrees

Arcadia: 33 degrees

Punta Gorda: 33 degrees

Immokalee: 35 degrees

Golden Gate: 36 degrees

Naples: 39 degrees

Ft. Myers: 40 degrees


Be sure to bundle up!
Lauren

A frigid start, temps in the 20's and 30's!

Be sure to dress in layers this morning with a heavy winter coat, hat and gloves as you venture out into this arctic air. A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect until 10am this morning and a Freeze Warning until 9am...

Current Temperatures:

Palmdale: 27 degrees

Lake Placid: 29 degrees

Alva: 32 degrees

Arcadia: 33 degrees

Lehigh Acres: 33 degrees

Punta Gorda: 34 degrees

Immokalee: 35 degrees

Golden Gate: 35 degrees

Ft. Myers: 40 degrees

Naples: 42 degrees


Brrrrrrrrr!!!
Lauren

The Coldest of the Season

Temperatures are on track to end up in the 20s and 30's tonight through tomorrow morning. Upper 20s are likely around Arcadia and Palmdale, near freezing near LaBelle and Immokalle. It will NOT freeze in Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Naples and westward. - Jim

2 Very Cold Nights

A Freeze Warning and a Wind CHill Advisory have been issued for tonight through tomorrow morning. Temperatures will drop to the lowest levels this season. Temperatures at or below freezing will be possible inland by morning. Temperatures along and west of US 41 should stay near to above freezing. This will be a very cold week. - Jim

A record cool day followed by a frigid, near-record cold night!

An arctic air mass has settled into SWFL and as a result high temperatures will struggle to warm this afternoon. A forecast high of 61 degrees in Ft. Myers today would break the record coolest high temperature for this date of 63 degrees set in 2003. Abundant sunshine will remain in place but a northerly wind at 15 mph with higher gusts will have us feeling chilly all through the day...

And for tonight, you'll need to break out all of the winter weather accessories in your closet with a near-record, frigid night ahead! A Freeze Warning is effect from 1am to 9am Tuesday morning as overnight lows will drop into mid to upper 30's across much of SWFL overnight with upper 20's possible for portions of DeSoto and Highlands counties including Arcadia and Lake Placid. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect through 9am Tuesday morning for Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties as wind chill values may drop into the upper 20's and low 30's early Tuesday.

Be sure to bring your pets indoors and protect your outdoor cold weather sensitive plants!
Lauren

Current Wind Chill Update

Don't leave the house this morning without that winter coat and you'll likely need the hat and gloves as well as wind chill values have fallen into the 30's across much of the area!

Current Wind Chills:

Ft. Myers: 39 degrees!

Cape Coral: 39 degrees!

Punta Gorda: 34 degrees!

Naples: 44 degrees


Definitely bundle up!
Lauren

Arctic Air Mass Moving In

A cold front passed through SWFL early this morning opening the door to a very cold and dry arctic air mass. We're waking up chilly temps in the 40's with even colder wind chills!

Current wind chills:

Ft. Myers: 41 degrees

Cape Coral: 41 degrees

Punta Gorda: 37 degrees

Naples: 47 degrees

Bundle up!
Lauren

Another Cold Front

It will be clear and cold tonight, sunny and a little warmer tomorrow. Another cold front will arrive on Sunday, making Sunday the cloudier of the two weekend days. Next week is shaping up to be even colder. - Jim

BRRRR!! cold again tonight.. How about 3 to 4 degrees colder!

Now that with breeze is calming down overnight that will allow temperatures to fall even farther than last night. On average, lows will be in the upper 30s and low 40s. The afternoon should feel a bit warmer as we approach the low 70s. Another cold front arrives Sunday morning with a few clouds, no rain. This will bring in another round of cold weather for next week. Could break a record next Thursday morning as we forecast 40. The record is 43 that night in Fort Myers.

 

Details on WINK and join me at 7!

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Colder tonight

We started off at 44 degrees this morning and it should be even colder tonight with lows closer to 40 degrees! A little warmer by tomorrow afternoon with highs closer to 70 degrees. Temperatures will continue to run below average for the next week - Jim

The cold air is here to stay. How about below average for 7 days??

The cold front has passed SWFL! I am sure you can tell when you walk outside. The wind is out of the north now ans it is bringing in very dry and cold weather in for the next few days.

 

As the front moved through this morning we had a little rain across the area. Tenth of an inch in Gateway and four hundrenth of and inch in Punta Gorda. Many location just picking up a trace of rain.

 

Overnight lows will be in the 40s. Some of you up north (DeSoto Co.) may see 39 degrees. But with plenty of sun it will make for a nicer afternoon. But highs only in the upper 60s d low 70s. This pattern will be with us for the next 7 days as the jet stream dips far south over Florida. So you can expect to see temperatures in the 40s overnight with afternoon highs in the low 70s. That is about 10 degrees below average!

 

Details on WINK and join me @7pm!

--
Scott Zedeker
WINK TV Meteorologist

Colder tonight

It begins. This will be an extended cold snap. Temperatures will run below average for the next 7 days and nights. The next 3 mornings will be the coldest of the season....so far. Stay warm! - Jim

Wind Speeds Increasing

Breezy conditions have taken over in Charlotte and Lee counties in the wake of a cold front. A north wind at 20 mph is being reported in Ft. Myers, 18 mph at SWFL International Airport and 16 mph in Punta Gorda with higher gusts. Naples still reporting a light southwesterly wind but the wind will shift out of the north and speeds will increase dramatically once the front passes through Collier over the next hour. Breezy conditions will persist across SWFL through the day.

Hold on to your hat!
Lauren

Patchy Fog Reducing Visibilities

Patchy areas of fog are reducing local visibilities...SWFL International Airport now reporting visibilities of 1.25 miles

-Lauren

Showers Moving through the Area

A line of light to moderate precipitation is moving through parts of DeSoto, Charlotte and Lee counties. Showers will be around for the next few hours in advance of a cold front which will bring much cooler air, breezy and clearing conditions for the afternoon.

-Lauren