Winter is Bipolar This Year

Many meteorologist are predicting a polar plunge for this year. With temperatures hitting 15 to 30 degrees lower then the average.

The Midwest is already seeing snow fall. The National Weather Service is predicting that about 250 new cold records will be established as a result of this polar plunge, from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

Temperatures are plunging well into the teens at night with the highs in the 60's for the high in the days time. Here in Florida we are already dipping into the 40's at night and that is early for us.

"According to the 2020 Farmers' Almanac, this winter will be filled with so many ups and downs on the thermometer, it may remind you of a 'Polar Coaster.'"

This whacky weather is certainly making us wonder if we will ever see spring. It's 40 degrees one day and 80 the next here in Jacksonville, Fl. The North East will be pounded by snow. This certainly has not been the most severe weather Florida has seen.

The Major Freezes after 1960

Volusia was officially a leader among Florida’s orange industry, and over the years here Florida has experienced the freezes of 1962, 1983, and 1985 which were very costly to our county, but the grove-killing freeze in December 1989 changed Volusia, possibly forever, because it killed off so many mature trees in our county that Volusia is now no longer recognized as one of the major producers of oranges in Florida.

The 1835 Freeze

Volusia’s worst freeze on record happened on February 8, 1835 – the day of freezing rivers that has never been matched again. For example, near what later became Jacksonville, the St. Johns River froze 50 feet or more out from the shore as the temperature descended to a mere 8 degrees above zero. Inland, at Ft. King (near what is now Ocala) it was 11 degrees – such a frigid cold front that from South Carolina through Georgia and into much of Florida fruit trees were “destroyed, roots and all” as far south as the 28th parallel, which today would include Tampa on the west coast and Palm Bay (40 miles south of Cape Canaveral) on the east coast.

It's important to keep in mind that different regions think of spring differently. In the northern tier, highs in the 60s can be reminiscent of spring, as 60s are common average high temperatures in April for much of the Northeast, Midwest and portions of the West.

However, in the southern tier, many will wear light jackets or sweaters until highs top out in the 70s, and it may not feel like spring for some until it gets closer to 80 degrees.

We depend on a ground hog to determine how long it will be until Winter ends but he is either getting senile or has predicted Spring for so long he doesn't care anymore.

I think it is safe to say we have all had enough now of this Winter Bipolar weather.

We see a little warmth and we become hopeful for the weather man to burst our bubbles with this outrageous cold weather that refuses to leave.

While we may believe it will never get warm again we know it will but when?

We all get ready and itching for spring, but the weather won't be cooperating. Cabin fever may feel like it’s settling in, but there are a variety of ways to spend your time indoors around your area if you don’t feel like braving the cold. Stop by Redbox and rent a movie.

Warm up and fill up at one of your incredible local restaurants, or curl up with a book with some hot chocolate.

Spend time with your family playing board games or just light a fire in your fire place and feel the warmth. We don't have to give in to the Winter blues just yet.

So many people can get the Winter blues because its not very fun doing most things in the cold. I hate wearing a coat and hat with a passion. That's why I moved to Florida to enjoy the warmth.

This year has taken its toll on many people like me because we want to make the stale Winter air become a beautiful Spring with flowers blooming. I love the smell of fresh Citrus trees blooming. I love to smell honey suckle because it takes me back to my childhood when we would taste the sweet little drop of goodness you could get from the flower.

Winter is depressing. We gain weight because we don't want to go outside unless we have too. I sit and look out the window staring at my pretty blue pool and know I can't get in it. The weeds have taken over the flower beds and why should they be able to live in cold temperatures? The whole thought of Winter makes me feel like I am suffocating from life. Give me 80 degrees and I will throw lots of love into that day.

Hold on to your hats because it will eventually end and spring will come when she is ready.