What cold fronts mean for hurricane season
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A cold front swept through Tampa Bay over the weekend, knocking daytime highs into the mid-80s and nighttime lows into the upper 60s.
Why it matters: It's the first breath of autumn and a welcome break from the heat — but, as the Tampa Bay Times put it, "we're not out of the hurricane woods, yet."
State of play: Hurricanes can and do form in October and November, even though a cold front usually means drier weather.
- In October, hurricane formation shifts from the coast of Africa toward the Caribbean, the Gulf and the southwest Atlantic, according to the Times.
- Sometimes, a front can linger for days, which can spawn tropical activity, Paul Dellegatto, chief meteorologist at FOX13, told the Times. But "I don't think it's going to happen in this case."
The big picture: Cold fronts have kept Atlantic storms veering out to sea this year instead of hitting land. If that pattern holds for future storms, Dellegatto told the Times, this hurricane season could be a wash.
- The front that moved through over the weekend should help guide Tropical Storm Jerry into the open Atlantic.
- "We probably will not have a landfalling hurricane in the United States this year," Dellegatto said.
What's next: Spectrum Bay News 9 chief meteorologist Mike Clay told the Times that cold fronts "spell the beginning of the end for hurricane season."
- By late October, temperatures in the region typically dip into the 50s, with Tampa usually feeling the change by Oct. 19 and St. Petersburg experiencing it closer to Halloween, per the Times.