UTampa campus, Tuesday morning, looking emptier than usual as a rare cold front swept through Tampa Bay. Photo courtesy of Madison Overmier.
Tuesday’s record-breaking cold weather shocked students, giving them a rare taste of winter in Florida.
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By Madison Overmier
TAMPA, Fla. — On Tuesday, Nov. 11, students at The University of Tampa were hit with a feeling of winter. Temperatures dropped into the upper 30s and low 40s, sending students searching for coats, scarves, and anything to keep them warm.
The National Weather Service reported Tuesday that the observed temperature range was 38 to 61 degrees. Meanwhile, the normal temperature range during November is 61 to 80 degrees.
The cold front also brought an even colder wind chill. The U.S. National Weather Service in Tampa Bay, Florida, posted on Facebook about a cold weather advisory early Monday morning.
“A cold weather advisory is in effect tonight for all of west central and southwest Florida as wind chills will generally be in the 20s to lower 30s,” said the post.
The post called for wind chills from 22 to 34 degrees and for people to protect their plants, pipes, pets, and themselves.
On Tuesday morning, as Floridians dealt with the cold weather, it was reported that a record was broken. Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported that a 133-year-old record low temperature was set.
“Back in 1892, 40 degrees was the lowest temperature on record,” said Fox 13 Tampa Bay. “On Tuesday morning, we broke that record, clocking in at 39 degrees.”
They also reported that cold shelters opened in the area to allow locals a place to keep warm.
“At Hyde Park United Methodist Church, one of Hillsborough County’s largest and longest-running cold-weather shelters, people began lining up as early as 3 p.m. Doors opened at 6 p.m.,” said Fox 13 Tampa Bay.
Beyond the broken records and advisories, the cold snap had an immediate effect on students’ lives at UTampa. Students found a way to bundle up on their way to class, which they no longer had to do when they chose to go to college in Florida.
Makenna Kern, a senior advertising and public relations major, said she has never experienced a cold like this since living in Tampa. She also didn’t have a coat because she never thought she would need it.
“This type of weather is normal back in Ohio, but I’ve been in Tampa for three years and I’ve gotten so used to the warmer weather,” said Kern.
Kern said the weather affected her normal morning routine, causing her to leave her apartment for class later than she normally does.
“I didn’t check the weather, and the sun was out, so I assumed it was just another warm day,” said Kern. “When I stepped outside and felt like I was back in Ohio, I quickly ran back inside and changed into sweatpants and a sweatshirt.”
Kern said she felt many students were missing from her classes.
The drop in temperature may have led students to skip class to avoid the cold, leaving campus quieter than usual.
The cold front did not last long. The weather is back to normal with this weekend’s temperatures in the 70s. The chilly weather that UTampa students experienced on Tuesday was a reminder of the climate that many call home.