TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Morning commuters in Tallahassee were greeted by an unseasonably crisp 56 degrees Monday, setting a new record low for September 15. The reading beat the old mark of 58 degrees set in 1971 and arrived more than two weeks earlier than the city’s average first dip into the mid-50s.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, the typical first reading of 56 degrees or cooler doesn’t arrive until October 2. This year, however, the cooler air showed up on September 15, outpacing the seasonal average by more than two weeks and besting last year’s first occurrence by over three.
The rare early chill follows a weekend of drier, less humid conditions across the Florida Panhandle. Residents in Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties reported temperatures in the upper 50s to near 60, giving homes a break from air conditioning and sending joggers and early risers outdoors.
Drivers are advised to remain aware of early morning fog potential as cooler overnight lows settle in through midweek. Residents may also want to prepare for a gradual warmup later this week, with daytime highs returning to the upper 80s by Thursday.
Cooler mornings are expected to linger at least through Wednesday, with the next noticeable warm-up arriving late week.
