What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
On a day when there’s severe weather in your area, you may find yourself under a tornado watch or even a tornado warning. What’s the difference?
Accuweather
Thanksgiving is next week, although Florida temperatures are making it hard to get into the holiday spirit.
Expect that to change very soon, as temperatures whipsaw close to 20 degrees down in some locations this week.
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➤ Tropics watch, Nov. 18: Remnants of former Tropical Storm Sara could impact Florida
That’s right. A cold front is approaching and, depending on where you live in Florida, temperatures could drop more than 15 degrees this week overall and drop close to 20 degrees between daytime highs and nighttime lows.
Don’t expect freezing temperatures, though. The lowest temps in the state are expected across the Panhandle and North Florida and those are forecast to stay above 40.
Florida weather forecast: Temperatures dropping this week as cold front moves through
Timing: See what, when to expect as cold front moves through Florida
Western Panhandle: The cold front will clear the area Wednesday morning but as it approaches and moves through, expect:
- Rain: Expect the bulk of the rain after 3 a.m. Tuesday. While the heaviest rain is forecast to remain over the Gulf, “we still expect a fire hose of water to stream into the area Tuesday morning, with heavy rain prevailing through the afternoon hours. Widespread rainfall totals of 3-5 inches are possible with the higher amounts possible across our southeast Mississippi and coastal Alabama counties,” according to the National Weather Service Mobile. Tuesday “will likely be one of the wettest days we have experienced in the past few months.”
- Wind: winds may get a little gusty at times Monday afternoon. Expect 20-25 mph gusts this afternoon over land.
- Small craft: Seas 7-plus feet as winds increase to 20-plus knots.
- Rip currents: Surf will build to 3-4 feet Monday, with 5-7 foot breakers Monday night and Tuesday.
Panhandle, Tallahassee, Big Bend: A few light showers through Monday afternoon, but the majority of the rain will arrive Tuesday morning as remnants of Tropical Storm Sara move north and interact with a cold front. “This appears to be our first taste of Florida fall weather.” Expect:
- Rain: 2-2.3 inches starting Tuesday, with a flash flood risk Tuesday through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee. Locally higher amounts possible, especially across coastal counties. Across Big Bend, 1-2 inches most likely. A couple of severe storms, particularly across the Florida Panhandle and southeast Alabama counties, possible.
- Wind: Strong to severe wind gusts appear to be the main threat at this time.
- Tornadoes: A tornado or two cannot be ruled out along the Florida Panhandle coast.
Northeast Florida: Temperatures Monday are above normal for this time of year. The cold front is expected to move across Northeast Florida Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville. Expect:
- Rain: Rain chances increase after 1 a.m. Tuesday and continue until early Wednesday afternoon.
- Wind: Winds could gust as high as 16 mph Wednesday
Florida East Coast: Near to above normal high temperatures expected through mid week, with much cooler air expected late week behind the cold front. The front will move east-southeast over east central Florida mid week, according to the National Weather Service, Melbourne.
- Rain: Scattered to numerous showers capable of heavy rainfall. Rain chances increase late Tuesday night and Wednesday. Rain totals are expected to be .40-1 inch.
- Wind: Gusty winds up to 25 mph are forecast late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
- Boating: Boating conditions will deteriorate as the front approaches the local Atlantic waters Wednesday and will remain poor to hazardous into late week behind the front.
- Wind chill: Minimum wind chill values in the upper 30s to mid 40s are forecast each morning north of Martin and southeastern St. Lucie counties west of I-95.
South Florida: Moisture from the remnants of Sara will “likely congeal,” bringing a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service Miami. Expect:
- Rain: Gusty squalls, brief heavy downpours.
- Boating: Atlantic waters 2-4 feet; Gulf waters 1-3 feet.
- Rip currents: A high risk for rip currents continues for the Palm Beaches.
- Coastal flooding: Minor coastal flooding is possible during high tide along the Atlantic coast.
West Coast: Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be warm and rain-free, with temperatures running a handful ofdegrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay. The coldest temperatures look to be Saturday and Sunday mornings after the cold front moves through. Expect:
- Thunderstorms: Chances of thunderstorms will increase toward the middle of the week. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms and perhaps a few strong storms are possible.
- Rip currents: The Gulf Coast could see rip current risk increase by mid-week.
- Coastal flooding: Minor coastal flooding is possible during high tide along the Gulf coast.
Florida cold front: How low will temperatures drop?
Use the slider bar on the right side of the map to compare low temperatures expected Tuesday, Nov. 19, to temps on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Florida weather: Daily high temperatures will drop as cold front arrives
Use the slider bar on the right side of the map to compare high temperatures expected Tuesday, Nov. 19, to temps on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Weather alerts issued in Florida
Watches and advisories:
- Coastal flood advisory from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. CST Tuesday.
- High rip current risk through Wednesday afternoon.
- High surf advisory from 9 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. CST Wednesday.
Forecast:
- Monday: High 78
- Tuesday: High 76; low 66
- Wednesday: High 72; low 50
- Thursday: High 63; low 49
- Friday: High 62; low 48
- Saturday: High 63; low 51
Follow National Weather Service Mobile on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 78
- Tuesday: High 77; low 68
- Wednesday: High 77; low 47
- Thursday: High 62; low 43
- Friday: High 62; low 48
- Saturday: High 64; low 44
Follow the National Weather Service Tallahassee on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 77
- Tuesday: High 80; low 67
- Wednesday: High 77; low 50
- Thursday: High 64; low 47
- Friday: High 63; low 45
- Saturday: High 65; low 46
Follow the National Weather Service Jacksonville on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 76
- Tuesday: High 81; low 69
- Wednesday: High 79; low 53
- Thursday: High 67; low 47
- Friday: High 66; low 46
- Saturday: High 66; low 49
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 79
- Tuesday: High 84; low 71
- Wednesday: High 81; low 59
- Thursday: High 71; low 49
- Friday: High 70; low 49
- Saturday: High 70; low 51
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 79
- Tuesday: High 84; low 69
- Wednesday: High 81; low 60
- Thursday: High 72; low 49
- Friday: High 70; low 48
- Saturday: High 71; low 50
Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 78
- Tuesday: High 79; low 75
- Wednesday: High 80; low 68
- Thursday: High 72; low 59
- Friday: High 71; low 58
- Saturday: High 71; low 61
Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 83
- Tuesday: High 83; low 71
- Wednesday: High 81; low 63
- Thursday: High 74; low 57
- Friday: High 74; low 56
- Saturday: High 73; low 55
Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 83
- Tuesday: High 85; low 70
- Wednesday: High 79; low 62
- Thursday: High 72; low 53
- Friday: High 73; low 51
- Saturday: High 73; low 52
Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter
Forecast:
- Monday: High 82
- Tuesday: High 82; low 72
- Wednesday: High 79; low 62
- Thursday: High 70; low 60
- Friday: High 72; low 56
- Saturday: High 70; low 55
Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter
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Excessive rainfall forecast
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