Hurricane Lee’s waves and a cold front approach Florida. What it means for our weather
The weather in South Florida is about to change.
A heat wave, then a cold front, storms and rough surf.
Here’s what’s coming:
The heat wave
South Florida could break a record heat high temperature record for this Sept. 13 date if the forecast high hits 94 degrees in Miami. Fort Lauderdale and Marathon’s forecast highs of 92 and 94, respectively, are one degree shy of the day’s record highs.
Miami set its record high of 93 on Wednesday’s date in 2022, according to meteorologist Robert Garcia with the National Weather Service in Miami. That record held, according to Extreme Weather Watch on Thursday.
The forecast high in the low-90s continue on Thursday and will dip to around 90 or upper 80s over the weekend.
But for now, it’ll feel even hotter.
“Feels like” temperatures of 100 to 105 — the heat index measures air temperature plus humidity — are expected Wednesday in South Florida. The Naples area could feel like 105 to 110.
“This time of year normally we will have started cooling down as the days start getting shorter again. But this week, because we have a little bit of high pressure sitting over us and the front to the north, you end up with a little bit sunnier skies, especially to start the morning, and a lot more ability for the temperatures to warm up before any showers and thunderstorms get going,” Garcia said.
Hurricane Lee’s waves
Hurricane Lee in the open Atlantic started to turn north Wednesday, as predicted, as a strong Category 3. Thursday, Lee, as a Category 2, is forecast to pass Bermuda and by the weekend eyes Maine and Nova Scotia.
Lee won’t hit Florida but its going to make its presence known along many of the state’s beaches.
“As Hurricane Lee makes its way north, up the Atlantic, it’s going to drive some of that wave energy and swells towards our coasts,” Garcia said. The Bahamas have been blocking some of the waves from reaching Florida’s coastline but that’ll soon end.
Expect higher seas and a higher risk of rip currents developing along Atlantic beaches, especially in the Palm Beaches, Garcia said. “The further north you go it’ll get more disturbed.”
These sea conditions are expected Thursday and into the weekend, according to the weather service and the National Hurricane Center.
Cold front weather
The cold front that is driving Lee to the north and away from the southeastern states will get closer to South Florida this weekend, Garcia said, and as the high pressure that’s kept things dry exits that means an increase in showers and thunderstorm activity Friday, Saturday and Sunday into the start of the workweek.
Rain and storm chances from this front are 60% Thursday night, climbing to 70% Friday, 80% Saturday and Sunday, and 70% Monday for South Florida. Some of the stronger storms could bring gusty winds, small hail and heavy downpours.
The Florida Keys should only see a chance of isolated thunderstorms with the highest chances — 40% — Saturday through Tuesday.
“That front will be knocking on our door,” Garcia said, but it won’t quite get in as far as the Miami area goes, so don’t expect to feel particularly cooler air in South Florida..
That’s because the drier air is not going to make it this far south for the weekend. South Florida temperatures will still be in the upper-80s, low 90s, except when it’s raining and storming and temperatures fall a few degrees.
“If folks were going into North Florida or into the southeast, they may have a little bit better sampling of the start of fall but this far south we’re going to have the warmer temperatures and the showers and storms,” Garcia said. “In terms of the cooler taste of the fall I don’t think we’re quite there yet, unfortunately.”
This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 10:27 AM.
