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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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A sharp blast of winter is set to slam into Florida just days after record-breaking warmth, as a rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone funnels frigid air deep into the South this weekend, driving wind chills into the 20s and 30s early next week.
A storm brewing off the northeastern coast is set to undergo bombogenesis, a process in which atmospheric pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. The rapidly intensifying storm can cause significant impacts. Bomb cyclones typically occur off the East Coast, and the storms can be accompanied by strong winds and snowfall.
This system is forecast to fall an even steeper 35 to 40 millibars, marking a powerful shift in the nation’s weather pattern, WFLA-TV Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli posted on X. While it remains too soon to determine how much snow the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast might receive—with possibilities ranging from a near miss to a major hit—Florida and the Deep South are already bracing for an abrupt return to winter by Monday and Tuesday after weeks of unusually warm temperatures.
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"Extreme weather pattern! After dozens of record highs in the Deep South & #Florida, a Bomb Cyclone will force frigid #cold air south this weekend, with Florida wind chills in the 20s and 30s early next week!!" Berardelli posted on X. "Now for the science. Bombogenesis - a bomb cyclone - requires a pressure drop of 24mb in 24 hours. This will be closer to 35-40 mb in 24 hours. How much #snow for the Mid-Atlantic / Northeast? Too early to tell. Could be a near miss, or a major hit. It will be razor close. Stay tuned! #But either way #winter returns to the south Monday/ Tuesday!"
Will Florida Get Snow?
Despite the plunging temperatures, Florida is not expecting snow, NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Richard Bann told Newsweek.
As for possible heavy snow in the Northeast, major cities like Boston, New York and Philadelphia have a medium chance at significant snowfall at some point this weekend.
"Just a few hundred miles could make the difference between heavy snow in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Sunday and Monday — or none at all," The Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll posted on X. "As the forecast comes into focus, the latest probabilities show a medium chance for 3+ inches in a stretch from D.C. to Boston."
Map Shows How Low Temperatures Will Drop
A video included with Berardelli's post showed a map of the Sunshine State's expected temperatures early next week.
Northern Florida and the panhandle could see wind chills dipping into the 20s by Tuesday morning, Berardelli's map showed. Central Florida, including Tampa, was expecting wind chill temperatures in the 30s, while Southern Florida, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale, could see wind chill temperatures in the 40s.
When Will Florida Warm Up?
Through February 28, southern Florida has a slight chance of below-average temperatures, according to a six- to 10-day temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center.
However, the cold will likely be short-lived. The eight- to 14-day temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center show a chance of above-average temperatures across the entire state between February 28 and March 4. Most of the rest of the U.S. is also expecting above-average temperatures during this same timeframe, with the highest chance in Texas.
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