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This is the worst freeze to hit Deep South Texas since 1989. Oddly, it's warmer here in Houston then it is in Brownsville at the moment! Coconuts in Brownsville are probably done for, but I still believe coconut palms closer then 5 miles from the coast have some chance survival, especially trunking, established ones. The 30F you see for South Padre Island is actually on the mainland 8 miles inland of Port Isabel, so the readings are usually 2-3 degrees colder then immediate Port Isabel and South Padre Island. It should reach 60F by Sunday with 70s by mid week. Also before the freeze, temperatures were in the 70s and 80s, and there were only 3 days where the high didn't reach 50F(with lows in the 30s) much like last year(except slightly colder). It is survivable. Temperatures like this are very uncommon on SPI, there's only been 3 freezes on the Island since 1989(2004-31F, 2010-32F, and 2011-30F) the rest of the absolute lows have been in the upper 30s(usually around 36F) and even low 40s! This makes it a borderline 10b climate!
Me and a SPI coconut in its full glory....
According to the NWS, the temperatures I've been observing are from the South Padre Island Heliport.
If I'm reading the observations correctly, SPI has been at or below freezing for sixteen hours. This cannot possibly be good.
Do temperatures in the mid to upper 30s have any effect?
Sigh, how come it is so over hyped when SPI gets a freeze while nobody mentions Florida???! Even Miami has seen a freeze before, as a matter of fact I believe it briefly saw 32F last year. Here's a snippet of weather data from Cocoa Beach, Florida(a barrier island very similar to SPI, average for Jan is 50/72, island is filled with mature coconut palms which were damaged by last winter but survived) from last January.
Data is very similar to SPI, although the duration of cool temperatures is much longer and slightly milder, but the warm up is nearly identical.
Sustained 30s would do any coconut in, but short durations in the upper or mid 30s usually doesn't harm a coconut just minor spotting to no damage depending on provenance.
Well we're making a big deal since this cold event is occurring now - lol.
This freeze is also much more prolonged than what Florida experienced last year. They certainly were cold for about two weeks, but SPI has been below 40 F since early yesterday morning, many hours at or below freezing.
This cold front has extended well into Northern Mexico. Even Monterrey, Mexico which is slightly south of SPI has been into the mid 20s... this cold front has been really powerful but they are also expected to hit the mid to high 70s by the weekend.
This cold front has extended well into Northern Mexico. Even Monterrey, Mexico which is slightly south of SPI has been into the mid 20s... this cold front has been really powerful but they are also expected to hit the mid to high 70s by the weekend.
Monterrey is up in the mountains and inland. An even bigger surprise is Ciudad Victoria/Soto la Marina, Tamuliapas, Mexico which is BELOW the Tropic of Cancer AND at sea level, the current temperature is 34F with a low of 32F later tonight!
This cold front has extended well into Northern Mexico. Even Monterrey, Mexico which is slightly south of SPI has been into the mid 20s... this cold front has been really powerful but they are also expected to hit the mid to high 70s by the weekend.
According to TWC, the high today was only 32 F. Lows forecasted to be in the 20s tonight and tomorrow night. Looks like lows next week may dip back down into the upper 30s, but not nearly as severe as this current outbreak.
Monterrey is up in the mountains and inland. An even bigger surprise is Ciudad Victoria/Soto la Marina, Tamuliapas, Mexico which is BELOW the Tropic of Cancer AND at sea level, the current temperature is 34F with a low of 32F later tonight!
TWC says 29 F for Ciudad Victoria, but still amazing nonetheless!
Monterrey is up in the mountains and inland. An even bigger surprise is Ciudad Victoria/Soto la Marina, Tamuliapas, Mexico which is BELOW the Tropic of Cancer AND at sea level, the current temperature is 34F with a low of 32F later tonight!
Wow that is impressive...looks like the cold front went at least as far south as Tampico right on the coast and is also below the tropic of cancer... low there is in the 30s and high in the mid 40s.
Current temperature in Tampico is 42 F. Based on available data, low today was 39 F. Is this the farthest south snow was recorded? I know there was a discussion about it a while ago.
According to Weather Underground, Tampico bottomed out at 37F (3C) in the last few days. Yes, I believe snow was recorded once in Tampico's history.
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