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A stretch of warmer-than-normal weather is expected to develop across the Florida Panhandle and the Tri-State region as a ridge of high pressure settles over the southern United States heading into late December. The National Weather Service Tallahassee office said Wednesday that the pattern shift will raise temperatures well above seasonal norms as the month closes.
According to the National Weather Service, a 40 to 60 percent chance of beneficial rainfall arrives Thursday into Thursday night, with a medium likelihood of exceeding 0.5 inches across much of the region. Some localized areas in the eastern Florida Panhandle have a 10 percent chance of topping 2 inches, though significant flooding is not expected. Forecasters note that while the moisture is welcome, it will not fully resolve ongoing drought concerns.
Temperatures will gradually warm following Thursday’s system, with highs climbing into the upper 60s to lower 70s beginning early next week. Overnight lows will settle in the mid to upper 40s, several degrees above normal for late December. The Climate Prediction Center places the region within a 70–80 percent likelihood of above-average temperatures from December 24 through December 30.
Average temperatures for this time of year typically reach the low to mid-60s during the day and the low to mid-40s overnight. Forecasts show Tallahassee reaching 67° Wednesday, rising to 71° by Friday and holding near 70° into early next week.
No flooding issues are anticipated, though minor ponding may develop on roads during heavier bursts of rain Thursday evening.
