"Northers" in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

[BigEasy]

Gene, You mentioned the possibility of Pensacola if the plans don't work out for Southern Florida. Just realize that in the Panhandle you are in an entirely different latitude; definitely an entirely different climate than South Florida. Pensacola will see many night time temps in the 30's and will experience more effects of frontal systems passing thru. Of course, the winters on the Panhandle are considered mild by those from Northern latitudes; however, in a Southerner's view it gets cold by our standards.
I always found it to be interesting to compare the differences in trees, plants , etc from Sanibel on South---definitely tropical as compared to the Panhandle. I spent a few years sailing around Pensacola; interesting that many cruisers leave the Panhandle & head to South Florida for the winter!

 

[richk]

Here's a norther

6 pm Friday, January 30th

 

[Gene Neill]

Gene, You mentioned the possibility of Pensacola if the plans don't work out for Southern Florida. Just realize that in the Panhandle you are in an entirely different latitude; definitely an entirely different climate than South Florida. Pensacola will see many night time temps in the 30's and will experience more effects of frontal systems passing thru. Of course, the winters on the Panhandle are considered mild by those from Northern latitudes; however, in a Southerner's view it gets cold by our standards.
I always found it to be interesting to compare the differences in trees, plants , etc from Sanibel on South---definitely tropical as compared to the Panhandle. I spent a few years sailing around Pensacola; interesting that many cruisers leave the Panhandle & head to South Florida for the winter!

I hear ya, Big Easy! That's what I mean about my home being a great place to trailer sail from. A four hour trip north puts me in Carabelle, four hours south and I'm in Sanibel. Two ENTIRELY different climates to choose from.

Florida in general can get a lot colder than a lot of people think! We never fail to hit the high 20's once or twice a year where I live. Miami had 42 degrees this February, and I'll never forget when it snowed down there in '77. My house in Crystal River had icicles over two feet long hanging off the roof one New Years eve, and manatees were freezing to death in the rivers. Then again, I went swimming in the Steinhatchee river on my wedding day on December 22nd of another year, it was in the mid 80's all day! You just never know.

Mr Bill, thanks again! I discussed everything you said with the Admiral last night. Some great information there, stuff that's hard to extract from raw meteorological data. We'll take your advice to heart and not be tempted by the Tortugas, at least until we can do it at a better time of year.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

I would suggest you get Sailflow Pro. It is the best weather predictor I have found and worked well for us in SW Florida. Get it now and study the patterns. You will be up to date on the weather with it and you can certainly see the northers as they plunge down into the Gulf. The waves and wind go together and the predictions from Sailflow will show both. Add some wind and wave height as they are good overall, but not hour by hour perfect.