Ready for spring weather?

It's been a while since the last blogpost here but suffice it to say that this winter has been long and harsh for most folks east of the Rocky Mountains. But here at Santa Rosa Beach the weather has been much more comfortable as only a few of the many Arctic air outbreaks (and none of the snowstorms!!) have made it this far south.

If you are still shivering in the cold and ready for a warm break take a peek at this high temperature forecast map for the beginning of next week:

I've inserted the white oval to indicate Santa Rosa Beach's location among the wonderfully warm orange and brown shades along the Panhandle of Florida. A quick look at the National Weather Service forecast shows high temperatures at or above the 70 degree mark this coming weekend and most of next week.

So make your plans to come on down and enjoy the spring weather here. And I happen to know first-hand that Casablanca on 30A is a great place to stay while you're here!

A wetter pattern for the U.S.

Over the past few days the large scale weather pattern over the nation has shifted away from the semi-permanent West Coast ridge and East Coast trough. That prior setup has created severe drought conditions in California while opening the floodgates for repeated dry and frigid Arctic air invasions over the eastern half of the U.S. Now, things are a bit different as shown in this Weather Prediction Center graphic:

This is a 7 day forecast of potential precipitation totals. Note the moisture from northern California up into British Columbia...that is quite a switch from recent dryness. Also note the west to east "belt" of moisture across the center of the nation. The current pattern is allowing more of a "zonal flow" (west to east) for the northern branch of the jet stream to transport Pacific moisture across the country. The higher precipitation over the East Coast is due to the southern branch of the jet stream pushing Gulf of Mexico moisture northward.

So what does this mean for Santa Rosa Beach and Casablanca on 30A? The swings in temperatures during January's cold air incursions have dampened - literally! - as the chances of rain have increased. The thermometer will top out in the mid-50s to the upper 60s over the next week with chances of rain most of those days. However it won't be a total washout as the sun will pop out for a while every day except Friday and Saturday. And another point to consider...no frozen stuff as low temperatures stay well above the freezing mark down here!!

Overall it's a great time to head south for some late winter relief, so c'mon down and enjoy the beach!

How about avoiding the Big Chill?

The buzz this week is the next Arctic air invasion, popularized (incorrectly BTW) as "Polar Vortex 2.0". But while the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast face first a significant snowstorm and then another round of dangerously cold wind chills Santa Rosa Beach offers sanctuary from such things. Check out this high temperature forecast graphic for this coming Sunday:

Note the warmer shades over the Florida panhandle and the blue "x" marking Santa Rosa Beach. Temperatures here may not be tropical compared to summer conditions but relative to the Arctic chill further north? No comparison! For example the lowest temperatures expected this week are Wednesday and Friday mornings when the thermometer will briefly dip to the 30 degree mark before climbing back up. No frozen precipitation here!!

Looking for a break from the chill? Like to get outside and enjoy sunshine and fresh air? C'mon down to Casablanca on 30A and enjoy some decent outdoor weather!

A New Year to enjoy the beach

Over the past few weeks (especially over the holidays) the Arctic sent a number of cold air masses plunging southward. Up until this now these cold shots dove straight south into Texas before scooting east. This allowed the very cold air to modify a bit over the warmer southern ground before moving over the southeastern quadrant of the nation (including Santa Rosa Beach). That pattern looks to be changing as I write this such that the next several cold shots will take a different path located a few hundred miles to the east, i.e. straight toward the Florida panhandle.

What does this mean for the East and for Casablanca on 30A? Colder weather is on the way over the next couple of weeks as this high temperature forecast map for Sunday Jan. 19th indicates:

Still, temperatures in the upper 50s at Santa Rosa Beach sound a lot better than the thermometer readings further north! 

Another affect of this change is that dryer conditions will prevail along the Gulf Coast. This weather pattern suppresses big storms over the southeastern U.S. as the moisture is kept locked up over the Gulf of Mexico. Thus the skies at the beaches are generally sunny as indicated in the National Weather Service forecast for Santa Rosa Beach. In fact Friday is the only day over the next week during which any chance of precipitation is forecast, and then it's only a 20% chance under mostly sunny skies!!

So if you're looking for some warmer temperatures and craving sunshine during the short gloomy days of winter come on down to Casablanca on 30A. We have what you need right here!

Twas the week before Christmas

Hmmmm...where have I heard that title before? Anyway, the warm weather continues at Santa Rosa Beach while the cold stuff stays locked up further north. Today through Thursday the weather will feature sunshine and temperatures in the mid-60s. How does that sound to those tired of sub-zero weather and gloomy overcast skies?

Even the "bad" weather here isn't hard to take. The extended weekend (Friday-Monday) forecast calls for a 20-40% chance of rain with highs creeping into the low 70s. Every day except Monday the prognostication is for at least partly sunny skies for those who are suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), i.e. lack of sunshine. Oh, and have I mentioned lately that the length of daylight here is longer than up north? Sunrise today was at 6:35 a.m. while sunset won't occur until 4:47 p.m. (all times CST). That adds up to over 10 hours of sunshine even this close to the winter solstice which features the shortest day of the year.

And to make matters even better the jet stream is keeping itself well north of Santa Rosa Beach. This upper air graphic shows how far south over the western U.S. that "river of air" dips this coming weekend:

Even northern Mexico will feel the effects of the dip while the Florida Gulf Coast is warmed by southwesterly flow off the Gulf of Mexico waters.

So if you want/crave/need a break from winter plan a trip to Casablanca on 30A. It's more like spring here!!

"Steady Eddie" weather at the beach

Growing tired of the temperature and weather rollercoaster plaguing most of the U.S.? C'mon down to Santa Rosa Beach where the thermometer readings are a lot more pleasant. For example, while the Mid-Atlantic states had ice and snow Sunday (which mostly melted Monday) the same areas are dealing with more snow today. That miserable weather will be followed by several days of much-below normal temperatures as another round of Arctic air plunges southward.

But at Casablanca on 30A? Things are much better than further north! Today's weather is a bit breezy with morning showers and a high in the mid-50s, but tomorrow and the rest of the work week ushers in sunshine and high temperatures in the mid-60s. That kind of temperature regime is a lot easier to deal with than - for instance - what Washington DC is looking at this week, with highs in the low 30s followed by another weekend chance at frozen precipitation.

The rest of December holds promise of more Arctic air plunging southward into the nation's midsection while the Florida panhandle escapes the chill. Here's the latest Climate Prediction Center temperature forecast graphic for the runup to Christmas:

Both the western and southeastern U.S. look to warm up while the "frozen North" stays frozen. Want a break from winter over Christmas? Check out Santa Rosa Beach and Casablanca on 30A!

Escaping the brutal Arctic blast

Much of the nation is or soon will be shivering under a powerful blast of Arctic air that is literally coming across the North Pole from Siberia. The cold temperatures are potentially record-setting in many locales for early December and would even feel cold during mid-January. BUT....Santa Rosa Beach will escape the brutal cold!! Check out this high temperature forecast graphic for next Tuesday (12/10) which looks similar to the temperature map for most of this week:

The white oval in the Florida panhandle indicates Santa Rosa Beach.  Check out the temperatures there versus the rest of the nation! The shallow and dense layer of frigid air just won't have enough punch to make it to the Florida Gulf Coast. The nearby clash between the cold and warm air masses will result in a 20-30% chance of rain for Casablanca on 30A from Thursday on but it won't be a total washout.

So with high temperatures in the upper 60's and 70s and lows in the mid-50s it looks like a great time to head south to Santa Rosa Beach to escape December's Arctic plunge. Check it out!