winter In SW Florida

[Bill1565]

Sumner, I am having difficulty with PM replies.

Cold here is relative. Natives wear earmuffs and gloves at 60 F.


Cold fronts sweep the country from west to east. Most do not reach SW Florida, Some do. local forecasters are quite good at telling which. In the Nov Dec time frame, the lows can be 60 ish. In Jan Feb it can be in the 40's on the water and freezing in central Florida

Wind shifts to North blows hard for a day or two, then eases and clocks. Winds in Nov Dec can be into the 30's, then back to light air dry 70's. What to do is find an anchorage sheltered from the north and hunker down for 2 or 3 days. Water temp will be 70's anyway so inside your boat will be comfy.

Things get tuffer in late December, Jan and Feb. Winds can be 40-45, temps in the 40's, but still it's only 2 or 3 days till sunny, dry and 70.

 

[seadaddler]

Last Year

Last year was so much cooler than in the past so much so alot of our plants were damaged and lots of crops were damaged,but yet the yeaar before in Jan I sailed around from Ft.Pierce to Punta Gorda and the weather was great sunny every day and even went for a dip in the keys and on the last day was windy and rainy but we were in Punta Gorda so was OK.
I am new here in Florida 2 years full time and the weather is so different every year and does vary just like up north.
Nick

 

[Sumner]

Thanks Bill, that is good info for us,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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[Florida sail]

Re: Last Year

Hey Guys,

Last year I sailed back and forth from Gulfport to Englewood in March and was thankful that I kept my skiing clothes from when I lived in NH.

Reef early,

>>ron<<

 

[zeehag]

you guys are griping about the cold there here y'all took from us our summer heat??lol-- your winter last yr was warmer than our summer this year- wtf!!! quit stealing our heat and get sailing!! wear yer warmies and sail sail sail--- is gonna be a bad winter-- keep warm and dry!!! ant hills in desert are being made taller so the rain runoff doesnt drown the ants and fur bearing critters are furrier than usual. look for wet and cold this winter--yukkkk and ouch--lemme outta here --we never even GOT summer...anyone wanna be a crew?? i am going to warm water ......come helen highwater--

 

[Benny]

Just one note. Temperatures here may feel different than their counterparts out West. That is because of our higher average humidity. Even though in winter our humidity drops some, temperatures in the 40s may be quite bone chilling in some days. Even the "feels like" index may yield a different experience than it does out West. Florida is far enough South to get a good warm sun in the winter months but the air masses that move through with the cold fronts bringing cold temperatures that seem to have a 3 day cycle. It's like Cold, Cold, Warmer, Warm and then the cycle may start all over again. It was well said that the water temperatures remains in the 60s and 70s depending on latittude so you may be comfortable inside the boat but due to the humidity the use of a small heater may be required. There are years when the cold fronts don't have enough "umph" to push through and the warmth never leaves. I think the 2010-2011 winter may be a little cool but the in next couple of winters we may be due for warm periods. I should note that my weather expertise is merely based on personal observations and has no scientific basis.