Floridians aren’t accustomed to cold weather, especially this early in the season. Miami’s 63° afternoon high—a reading far short of the normal 80° high—was balmy compared to the 52° reading observed there late Tuesday evening. A colder air mass hasn’t occurred this early in the season across south Florida in the 38 years since 1968. Authorities opened shelters across the state to offer refuges from the abnormal chill which was expected to approach or break low temperature records early Wednesday. Tampa struggled to 59° Tuesday, Orlando struggled to 57° and Daytona Beach topped out at just 54°. Each of these readings were eclipsed by highs Tuesday in the Plains—including the record-breaking 69° at Rapid City, S.D. and Hastings, Neb.
It was snow which made news in eastern Georgia and South Carolina. Thunder accompanied the snowfall in Charleston, S.C.—a first for the city. Snow has not fallen any earlier there.
--By Tom Skilling, WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist
