Brrr ... break out the sweaters

By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer
Published November 16, 2007

Here's your chance to pretend you live in some chilly clime, one of those northern states where Thanksgiving time means thermal blankets at night and hot chocolate in the morning.

Bundle up you faux New Yorkers and Michiganites.

Throw on a few layers. Slip some mittens on the little ones.

Let your car engine warm up a bit before you throw it into drive.

A cold front that began its push into the Tampa Bay area Thursday was expected to plunge morning temperatures today into the mid 40s to the lower 50s near the coast. Near-freezing temperatures are a possibility for the northern counties.

The highs today are expected to be the coldest of the season, reaching only the mid 60s.

Jackets will be de rigeur today, said Anthony Reynes, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. Even in the sunny afternoon.

"We're going to feel it," he said.

If you don't like the cold, fear not. The cold spell won't last long.

Florida's more typical fall weather will make its return by Sunday, with highs forecast in the upper 70s and lower 80s.

As for the real New Yorkers and Michiganites on Sunday, they'll still be feeling highs -- highs! -- in the 40s.

[Last modified November 16, 2007, 02:10:10]