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Gulf of Mexico Effects
The Gulf of Mexico causes definite
land-sea interactions and generally has a moderating effect on the Pensacola
area. Tertiary land and sea breezes dominate the local area as far
inland as 40 nm, depending on their intensity. The Gulf affects local area
temperatures during the summer. Once the convective temperature (generally
10 degrees Fahrenheit (F) above the sea surface temperature) has been reached,
the sea breeze dominates, creating a nearly instantaneous 4-7 degree F
drop in the air temperature. During the winter months, the Gulf moderates
the Polar outbreaks and infrequent Arctic outbreaks along the coastal region.
In the near coastal regions, relatively warm water temperatures moderate
the minimum temperatures. Below freezing minimum temperatures occur more
frequently further inland (more than 10 nm). Though the Gulf moderates
much of the local weather, it also doe not impede the northeastward movement
of unstable waves developing over southern Texas. Generally speaking, thunderstorms
that form over the Gulf and move inland produce heavy precipitation and
occasionally severe weather.
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