Feel that slightly drier air? In Miami, we call that a cold snap

The devastating and deadly Hurricane Matthew’s final parting gift could be that early nip in the air so many have been talking about since the weekend.

The drier air and the refreshing breeze that has some switching the AC and rolling down car windows, is partly the result of Matthew’s merging with a frontal system near the Carolinas’ southern end, said Andrew Hagen, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. That, along with a high pressure system over the eastern U.S. is sending strong northeasterly winds.

The result is temperatures in the mid-70s and lower-80s, and lower humidity.

“It’s been dry behind that front, as well, so the rain has been 20-percent or less the last few days and that has kept temperatures near normal for this time of year,” Hagen said.

Make that “near” normal. The average start date of the dry season is Oct. 20. The rainy season generally runs May 20 to Oct. 20 but the Miami area is getting treated to more comfortable temperatures earlier this year.

Swimmers should beware, however. Rip currents are a risk through Wednesday morning, with winds at 10 to 15 miles-per-hour near the coast and five to 10-miles-per-hour inland.

The National Weather Service predicts that similar conditions should last through the rest of the week in Miami-Dade and Broward with a slight tick up in temperatures to the mid-80s. There is a 40 percent chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures in the low-70s at night.

“This high pressure over the southeastern U.S. will weaken and the flow will weaken and that will allow for more typical east winds to develop and that will make the atmosphere more moist and increase rain chances into the weekend and into early next week,” Hagen said.

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Feel that slightly drier air? In Miami, we call that a cold snap."