It’s hot out there, but a cold front is coming. Here’s how low it will go around Florida
Those of us who live in South Florida have been feeling the record heat lately.
But two cold fronts are on the way, just in time for spring break. We hope the visitors packed sweaters with their bathing suits.
The first front moved in early Saturday morning — and if you were sleeping you might not even know it happened.
This weekend’s front — call it an appetizer for the main one to come — won’t be felt during the afternoons when temperatures in South Florida climb to the mid-80s. “We’re really not going to see a cool down with this first one,” said Luke Culver at the National Weather Service in Miami. Overnight lows Saturday and Sunday will be in the upper-60s to low-70s, he said.
A few showers may pair with the weekend front Saturday when rain chances are around 20%. “Nothing really widespread of too crazy.”
Jazz in the Gardens, Calle Ocho
The weather forecast pairs well with two signature South Florida events.
Jazz in the Gardens and its slate of R&B acts fills the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens Saturday and Sunday.
CBS Miami meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez forecasts 86 degrees at 4 p.m. showtime Saturday and 83 degrees at Sunday’s start. Lows as the music festival wraps around midnight will be 75 in Miami Gardens, she said.
At 11 a.m. Sunday, Calle Ocho packs 15 blocks between 12th and 27th avenues of Little Havana’s Southwest Eighth Street with dozens of Latin music acts for eight hours. At showtime expect 79 degrees. By 3 p.m. it’s 85 degrees and 81 when Calle Ocho ends at 7 p.m. Sunday, Gonzalez forecasts.
The bigger chill
The front that will change the weather moves in Monday evening or Tuesday, Culver said.
That second front boosts rain and possible thunderstorm chances to 30% Monday through Wednesday with some gusty winds around 20 mph by Wednesday.
“Up until Tuesday night it’s going to be basically normal to above normal temperatures. Tuesday night into Wednesday is when we’ll see cooler temperatures,” Culver said.
Look for lows in the upper-50s Tuesday night along the coast. Interior regions like the Everglades could dip to the lower-50s, maybe upper-40s, according to the weather service. But Ocean Drive isn’t the Everglades so don’t fret too much.
But Tuesday night will kind of be the start of a cooldown. Looks like probably upper 50s. Tuesday night for lows Wednesday. Highs will likely be just in the 70s.
The chill remains Wednesday and a gradual warming kicks in Thursday as highs reach the mid- to upper-70s, with lows in the upper-60s into Friday and the coming weekend.
The Florida Keys, as usual, will be warmer. Expect a range of 78 down to 66 degrees from day to night Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rip currents
If you’re swimming at South Florida’s beaches this weekend know this: There is a high risk for rip currents across Palm Beach County beaches and a moderate risk across Miami-Dade and Broward beaches Saturday. Breezy winds could make marine activities sketchy across Atlantic waters east of Palm Beach County, the weather service warned.
East central Florida beaches in the Orlando area also face elevated rip currents.
Traveling this weekend?
Here are some forecast highs and lows around Florida during the coming cold front, according to the weather service.
▪ Orlando: A high of 70 and a low of 48 Tuesday.
▪ Tampa Bay/Bradenton: Spring Break highs in the low 70s Tuesday-Thursdays, lows in the mid- to low-50s.
▪ Sanibel-Captiva: As some beaches re-open after last September’s Hurricane Ian, expect mid-70s down to upper-50s mid-week.
READ MORE: What’s opening in Florida after Hurricane Ian? See timeline for beaches and restaurants
▪ Gaineseville: Highs in the mid-60s, lows at 40 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
▪ Tallahassee: A high of 64 and a low of 42 Tuesday.
