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Posted by Frank on 13:28:12 12/02/14
In Reply to: Re: Historic Temperatures posted by Toe
Hate to be any kind of devil's advocate, but several of the low temperatures before the late 1940s in Miami may not be comparable to today's readings. The series of days in January 1940 with temperatures below freezing is such a case. Although a serious cold wave, daytime temperatures in Miami were not extremely low- as they were in severe cold waves in 1977, 1985, 1989, or even January 2010. The readings back then were taken in a location that was very open, and completely rural. Today readings at MIA are in a heavily urbanized area- such places tend to be warmer, especially at night. It's of interest that as recently as the mid 1980s, it was typically about 2-4 degrees (or more) lower at MIA than at the weather station on South Beach (operational since the late 1940s, I think). During recent cold outbreaks-like Jan and Dec 2010, the low temps were about the same in both locations- something rather surprising. So who knows the answer really to these questions... But for Florida as a whole, the period between 1977 and 1989 was possibly the worst series of freezes since Florida became a US territory in 1821. Almost equally severe was the late 1800s. I've read that the cold waves in 1835, 1886, 1894-95 (two!), and 1899, as well as 1917, 1977, 1983, 1985, and 1989 were the only freezes in Florida that would be truly be called "epic, or catastrophic"...
Well, I can play devil's advocate with myself- since 1989, no freeze in Florida (even 2010) even came close to the damage and severity wrought during the 3 events in the 1980s. Hmm...it does seem warmer, doesn't it? The black-throated blue wintering in my yard seems content with our warm winter weather, and I feel the same...
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