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Front pushes Wilma out, ushers in cooler weather

The forecast calls for temperatures at least 10 degrees cooler for the next few days.

By STAFF WRITER
Published October 24, 2005

The first major cold front of the season will keep temperatures in the Tampa Bay area at least 10 degrees cooler than normal for a few days. The jet stream of icy air is also what propelled Hurricane Wilma across the peninsula so quickly this morning.

"It picked up Wilma and sling-shotted her across the state," Bennett said Monday afternoon.

The front will be the driving weather force for the next four days, said Shawn Bennett, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Center in Ruskin. It extends from Canada all the way to the Yucatan peninsula, and has accelerated the movement of cold winds from the north.

The abrupt change in climate is particularly noticeable because the region has been in a period of warmer than normal temperatures lately, he said. Normal for this time of year is highs of 82 and lows of 62.

"For the next few days, we're going to be at least 10 degrees below normal," Bennett said. Through Friday, highs should be in the mid 60s to low 70s and lows in the upper 40s to mid 50s, he said. Only isolated showers are expected, so west central Florida will get a chance to dry out from the heavy rains associated with Hurricane Wilma.

"We get a spate of cooler weather," Bennett said. "Maybe folks can turn their air conditioners off for awhile."

[Last modified October 24, 2005, 15:03:46]