Phillip's Natural World: Florida March Heatwave

Across the South, but especially in Florida, its going to feel more like the first week of June instead of the first full week of spring.

Every day comes with nearly cloud free skies and more oppressive heat. There is very little chance of rain for the foreseeable future and the peninsula has already been months without rain. Wildfires will be our next disaster if hurricane season doesn't come early.

High records are being recorded from Texas to Florida this first week of spring and 3rd week of coronavirus lockdown, of sorts.

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High Fire Danger Increases
Each Day Without Rain

Many Central Florida beaches are closed and all Florida State Parks (and their many springs) are currently closed due to COVID-19 so none of the normal places people go to cool off are available.

Only access to the Blackwater Creek is now by kayak and it is impassable in many areas due to low water. It has not rained in 2 months.

Weather models forecast 100s of record highs falling over coming days.

Florida Heatwave March 2020

Records and Rankings

2020 has been the warmest and driest March ever recorded for much of Central Florida

Hot and Dry = Flash Drought over the Florida Peninsula
Little to no rain forecast through April 4, 2020.

The record heat is being caused by a ridge in the jet stream that has built in for much of the southern USA.

Florida has not see rain in 6 weeks or more in most places across the peninsula and will likely not see any rain before the first week of April, if then.

The only escape from the heat is on the water. Many boat ramps and parks are closed due to coronavirus so if you manage to get on the water you likely will not encounter anyone there.

Highs will be over 100° across parts of West Texas and the Texas Panhandle.

Our warming climate has caused spring to arrive earlier across much of North America. In Florida there was no cool weather this winter so it was basically a transition from short hot, dry days to longer hotter and drier days.