We know that November was warm. Air conditioners kept running, folks were still in backyard swimming pools and even going in the water at the beach. But how warm was it?
The first two weeks were exceptionally warm, with numerous record highs and record high minimum temperatures broken. All locations that keep records ended up in the top five warmest on record, with some at the top.
This followed a warm September and October, making it one of the warmest autumn seasons (Sep-Nov) on record, as well.
Let’s look at the numbers:
Tampa
- November: Average Temp 76.2 degrees (7.1 above normal). Second warmest on record.
- There were five daily record high temperatures recorded and eight record high minimums recorded.
- Autumn (September-November): Average Temp 79.0 (3.3 above normal). Warmest Autumn on record.
Lakeland
- November: Average temperature: 75.4 degrees (7.2 above normal). Second warmest on record.
- There were five record high temperatures recorded and nine record high minimums recorded during the month.
- Autumn (September-November): Average temperature: 78.3 (3.8 above normal). Second warmest Autumn on record.
St. Petersburg
- Average temperature: 74.9 degrees (4.8 above normal). Third warmest on record.
- There were NO record high temperatures recorded, but eight record high minimums recorded during the month.
- Autumn (September-November): Average temperature: 79.1 (2.6 degrees above normal). Fourth warmest Autumn on record.
Sarasota-Bradenton
- Average temperature: 75.4 degrees (6.2 above normal). Second warmest on record.
- There was one record high temperatures recorded and seven record high minimums recorded during the month.
- Autumn: (September-November): Average temperature: 78.0 (2.4 above normal). Second warmest Autumn on record*
Rainfall for the month, in most cases, was below average. Late in the month, there were some showers, and Polk County did see quite a bit of rainfall leading to above average rain totals for the county. November is typically our driest month, so the deficits were not too significant.
Looking ahead to December, here are some numbers:
Tampa
- Average high on the 1st is 75 degrees, 70 by the 31st
- Average low on the 1st is 57 degrees, 52 by the 31st
- Average rainfall is 2.47 inches
Lakeland
- Average high on the 1st is 76 degrees, 72 by the 31st
- Average low on the 1st is 55 degrees, 50 by the 31st
- Average rainfall is 2.60” inches
St. Petersburg
- Average high on the 1st is 74 degrees, 70 by the 31st
- Average low on the 1st is 59 degrees, 54 by the 31st
- Average rainfall is 2.75”
Sarasota-Bradenton
- Average High on the 1st is 76 degrees, 71 by the 31st
- Average Low on the 1st is 56 degrees, 52 by the 31st
- Average rainfall is 2.53” inches
With the forecast for the first week of December to be above average, it will take somewhat of a significant cool snap at some point this month to get December to average out to be normal.
As far as rainfall, with the El Nino in place, more active weather should be with us through the winter months of December through February.