SEVERE Weather Alert for W. Ctr. FL
 

Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service

...CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE- LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ZEPHYRHILLS...WINTER HAVEN...VENICE... TAMPA...SPRING HILL...SEBRING...SARASOTA...PUNTA GORDA... PORT CHARLOTTE...NEW PORT RICHEY...LAKELAND...INVERNESS... FORT MYERS...CLEARWATER...CHIEFLAND...CAPE CORAL...BROOKSVILLE... BRANDON...BRADENTON...BARTOW AND ARCADIA. 351 AM EST WED JAN 22 2003
...FREEZE WATCH... ...WIND CHILL WATCH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FREEZE AND WIND CHILL WATCH FOR ALL OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHICH INCLUDES LEVY...CITRUS...SUMTER...HERNANDO...PASCO...PINELL AS... HILLSBOROUGH...MANATEE...POLK...HARDEE...DESOTO... HIGHLANDS... SARASOTA...CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTIES FOR THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL USHER IN SOME OF THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES SO FAR THIS SEASON FOR THURSDAY NIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY...LASTING INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WITH READINGS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM THE TEENS TO NEAR 20 ACROSS THE NATURE COAST...TO THE 20S TO NEAR 30 ACROSS THE WEST CENTRAL PENINSULA...AND AROUND 30 DEGREES OVER CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTIES. IN ADDITION DAY-TIME HIGH TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY ARE ONLY EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S.

STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL MAKE FOR VERY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES AS WELL THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. READINGS BY FRIDAY MORNING WILL RANGE FROM THE SINGLE DIGITS OVER THE NORTH...TEENS CENTRAL...AND 20S FAR SOUTH.

ALL RESIDENTS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO MINIMIZE THE AFFECTS OF THESE COLD TEMPERATURES. AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS FOR PLANTS AND LIVE STOCK. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT.

A FREEZE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF A WIDESPREAD AND DAMAGING FREEZE WITHIN 48 HOURS. DURING THE FREEZE PERIOD... TEMPERATURES MAY REMAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS.

I don't know guys....That's pretty damn cold!

Should I winterize??

..great!...we land Saturday in Ft.Myers for a week....:rolleyes: :hothead:

Not to worry...This will be mostly gone by Saturday and it should be in the upper 50's. Sunday will be in the 60's.
It's only one night luckily.

BD,
I just dropped a work light, (60 Watt) in the bilge about 2 weeks ago and I think that should be good to go. My boat sits on the lift in the dock, and the H2O temp is still in the 50-60 Deg. range and that does alot to keep the temps from going too LOW! I also have my battery charger on, it gives off a little heat.
Can you drop a work light in your bilge?
MD

Thanks Dean, that was my first instinct too, but I'm afraid that I can't get power to the boat.

I'm wondering how long will a block retain heat? If I warm it up at night to full operating temp, will it last? My engine compartment is pretty well insulated. Luckily, with 496 winterizing is not too difficult, but I'd still rather not go down there on a cold night. :cool:

Damn I was wondering the same thing... Should I winterize mine? Im not on the west coast.. and I can get power to the boat, so I think a worklight is getting dropped into the bilge tonight when I gat home.... DAMN I tought it was getting cold!

We were down in Key Largo over the weekend and on Saturday it was 48-50 not one ray of sun all day and strong winds. It was nasty.

Baja, you should be ok,takes more than what your getting to do any damage. But for peace of mind,why not do it?You can drain a 496 in about 5 seconds per engine.

You guys are a bunch of wusses!:D :D :D

That's nothing, Check out the forecast for Minneapolis!:eek: :eek:

http://images.viacomlocalnetworks.co...mage_346130701

Both of my boats have closed cooling with antifreeze in the coolant. Do I have to worry about anything?

I remember not to long ago around the end of October when the guys down south were making fun of us about winterizing our boats:D

A lot of people use the drop light and bulb. For piece of mind drain the block also and tip the lower unit down so the traped water can drain from it.

Cordell

You should be fine for the engine but what about fresh water system, drives and maybe exhaust (water jacket) draining alone should be OK for what you guys will see. Up here we have to pump everything full of antifreeze.

Instead of winterizing your boat-put it in the water. With water temps 50-60, the residule warmth from the water will keep your engine blocks from freezing. My buddy left his boat at my dock during the winter, the boat froze in the ice-and the engine was fine.

Egad, do I have to cover my plants again??
 

what the.....? It's 70 degrees in Orange Cnty FL!

Thanks guys!
Appreciate the info. I feel better already...Don't laugh, but I did a heat flux analysis on the mass of the engine in the insulated environment. I should be okay.

Nonetheless, I think I'll go to the marine tomorrow and warm her up and drain the water....The 496 is a piece of cake. Just pump away. :)

The water idea is probably the best one yet for short cold snaps...The heat contained in the water, transfered through the drive will be plenty to keep her warm! The water's in the upper 60's.

Thankx!

Hey, watch it, Pal!!! :mad:
Just Kidding...I wish it weren't so, but it's going to happen...
The weather azzhole on tv said this will be the coldest temps in like 12 years here. WHOA! :o

Kohldog, thats what i was gonna say, its down to 6 deg f here in gary- chicogo area, and going down to -6 tonite with a windchill of -25 to -30, can you say wtf, trust me im ready for a break in the weather,

Oh Boy......I have to get the drop lights and sleeping bags out for my palms. Who said Tropical Landscapes are cool.:mad: :mad: I've got a nusery here but i'm on the Gulf front so it should be a little warmer with the water temps.Wardey

It may be short lived but , WELCOME TO MY WORLD!!!!;)

What if my motor is torn down? I believe the heads are off of it. It is at the shop so I'm not sure what I can do.

Florida Gator, if your engine is torn down, there is no water in the block. No worries!:D

Got home from work last night, grabbed a 9/16 wrench, tossed back the cover and pulled all the drains out. The block and manifolds are now empty but I forgot the damn oil cooler.:mad:
I also put two 95 watt light fixtures in the engine compartment which I'll plug in tonight when I get home. That should take care of the cold weather.
The wife was worried about her plants. I said "screw the plants, I don't wanna to lose the engine to a cracked block, the plants are cheaper to replace". I guess I'll pull in her plants when I get home tonight.

Ok,
Now you guys have made me pairnoid! I'm going to drop another light in the bilge tonight!! :cool:
MD

You southern belles are a bunch of wussies!:p :p :crazy: :crazy: Last weekend we were snowmobiling here in -22F. :eek: If it were as WARM here as it is by you guys, we would be in sweatshirts and no jackets. I guess that's why up north we grow the women large and in charge to keep us warm in the winter!:o :p

Southern Belle's???
A bunch of wussies???
:hothead:
NOT!!

Was born and raised, partially, in Pennsylvania. Actually in the Vally Forge area. Spent the rest of the time in Jersey.
I do know what minus temps are like and what snow up to my ass is like to shovel. Spent the first 33 years of my life in that stuff, the wife too. We got smart and left it behind 15 years ago.
We my be paranoid about a drop to 26 degrees but we'll be boating in March while you'll still be digging yourselves out.:D

BTW the wife maybe in charge, but she aint large.:D :D

Iggy , You're from Valley forge area. I've lived right down the highway in Malvern. All my life!! And it is still colder than a rats A$$ around here. Just had friends move to Ocala(sp). Wife doesn't want to move just yet. But I'm workin' on it!!!!:p

Actually I lived in Berwyn on Beechwood Road, #360.
Most people never heard of Berwyn so I say it's near V.F..
It is close, kind'a. :D

Have a sister that lived in Malvern then moved to Hershey('s) Mill.

BTW your frinds in Ocala will get the worst of the cold tonight.
Ocala is always colder than Orlando/Kissimmee.
They'll be wondering why they didn't move further south.

This morning the temp was -1 here. if it hits 20-30 I'm going swimming.:D

A electric ceramic heater from Sears for about $32 and it can be set at 50*-60* or 70*. It 's size is about8"x8"x8". Don't have to worry about fire or withMurphy...the bulb burns out!

Wusses????

Okay, well maybe! :D

I, too, was born and raised in Jersey...What a ****hole(IMO)! :rolleyes:
I once took cold in stride and even revelled in it. I loved playing pond hockey, sleighriding, snowboarding, etc.

But the dreary, gray, never-ending winters are just too depressing and get old quickly. Shoveling snow sucks! Driving in snow sucks! And people's attitudes in winter generally are not as cheerful.....I'm in a nicer place now...despite the freeze. :D:cool:;)

LOL! :D:D

-8 this morning with a 35 below wind chill. Let's see how your oranges like them apples!