February Temperature Outlook In FL Looks Nothing Like 1899 Record

FLORIDA — February temperatures in Florida should be near normal across the state, according to an updated outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.

Overall, the temperature outlook for the last month of meteorological winter favors well-above normal temperatures in the northern half of the nation, and near-average temperatures in parts of the Southwest and Southeast, according to the forecast.

Precipitation, whether as rain or snow, looks to be above average across large parts of the southern, central and southeastern parts of the country, but well below average in the Pacific Northwest and around the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and in the Northeast, according to the outlook.

In Florida, temperatures are expected to be normal this month, while precipitation amounts should be 70 to 80 percent above normal, NOAA predicts.

So far this month, Florida has seen low temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to the upper 50s, with high temperatures expected to rise from the upper 60s to high 70s the rest of the week in Tampa Bay. The seven-day forecast calls for highs climbing into the low 80s Wednesday to 60 degrees by Sunday, then climbing back to 70 on Monday. Skies will be mostly clear this week, with rain chances returning Monday and Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

Historically, February can bring some of the coldest temperatures of winter. In Florida, the coldest day on record was Feb. 13, 1899, when the thermometer registered 2 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in Tallahassee.

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