A cold front and ‘ugly-type weather’ heads to South Florida. What the Easter forecast says
This Easter and Passover weekend in South Florida could bring storms to your gatherings.
Here’s what you need to know:
An upper-level trough disturbance should make its way to South Florida late Sunday, early Monday, bringing cooler temperatures and between two to three inches of rain over a few days into Wednesday, says National Weather Service in Miami meteorologist Shawn Bhatti.
‘Ugly-type weather’
Thunderstorms could bring localized downpours, strong winds and a moist, maritime air mass that should pull highs from the mid- to upper 80s through the weekend down by about 10 degrees. Lows could dip to the upper 60s, low 70s Tuesday and Wednesday along the East Coast, according to Bhatti.
“We’re not looking at a real good punch of cold air, more of a mild, maritime air mass,” Bhatti told the Miami Herald. But the rain could bring you inside if you have afternoon activities on the Sunday holiday. Storm chances rise from 40% Sunday to 60% Monday and 50% Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We could get some decent rainfall totals mid- to late Sunday, and then kind of continuing through Monday, as well, even into Tuesday,” Bhatti said. “It’s going to be this continuous, ongoing kind of ugly-type of weather. So, it’ll be pretty cloudy, most likely. The expected 2 to 3 inches would not fall all at once and could start midday Sunday for about three to four days.
Easter Day should not be a “total washout,” Bhatti predicted Thursday, but “we definitely can’t rule out that potential.”
Keys’ record high
Meantime, Marathon in the Florida Keys set a daily high temperature record Wednesday. The April 5 90-degree reading broke the record high of 88 degrees set in 1993, 2019 and 2022, according to the weather service in Key West. High temperatures will continue into the weekend. The chance of storms in the Keys is lower than along the East Coast. Just 30% on Easter Sunday.
Rip currents
The forecast for Thursday, April 6, brings gusts up to 24 mph in South Florida, warm temperatures in the low 80s and mostly dry skies, according to the service.
The weather service also warns of dangerous rip currents along coastal Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County beaches persisting from Thursday morning to Friday evening.
This story was originally published April 6, 2023 at 11:09 AM.
