A wintry blast is coming to South Florida for New Year’s. How low will it go?
New Year’s Eve parties and New Year’s Day morning will send a cold shock through South Florida. Temperatures are forecast to dip into the upper-40s sometime around 6 a.m. Thursday, according to Weather Underground.
As Wednesday’s New Year’s Eve parties wind down after midnight into the Thursday morning hours, the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas will plunge from the earlier daytime highs of 72, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
Credit an “arctic blast” from the northern U.S. pushing south into Florida by late Tuesday, bringing a 20% chance for a few showers late in the day. Winds are expected to shift north, making the “feels-like” temperatures feel several degrees colder, causing the overnight plunge.
But here’s some news to warm your heart: A steady stream of sunny days will follow.
First, you’ll feel “that chilly breeze” to start the day Wednesday, CBS News Miami meteorologist Dave Warren said in his Friday broadcast.
“The start of the New Year will be even colder, with temperatures barely climbing out of the 60s each afternoon,” he said.
The week of low temperatures
While post-Christmas Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be warm in the Miami area, with highs hovering around 80, evenings and early mornings will be cooler.
Here are South Florida’s forecast early-morning lows through New Year’s Day, according to Miami Herald news partner, CBS News Miami.
- Saturday and Sunday: 62.
- Monday: 63.
- Tuesday: 64.
- Wednesday (New Year’s Eve): 52.
- Thursday (New Year’s Day): 48.
MORE: Ready to party like it’s 2026? Here’s where to go on New Year’s Eve in Miami
Around Florida
Some of you will be traveling around Florida for the start of 2026. Here are the lows you’ll want to pack appropriate sweaters and coats for, according to Weather Underground.
- Orlando: This Central Florida locale is a hot spot due to its Disney, Epcot and Universal theme parks and other attractions. But it’ll be a chilly hot spot before Miami starts to feel that arctic air. Look for the 40s to descend on the Orlando region around 9 p.m. Tuesday. New Year’s Eve morning at 6 a.m. will be the coldest point at 40, with “feels-like” temps at 35. Temperatures will only climb to a high of 58 that day before dipping into the mid- and low-40s again on New Year’s Day morning. The high on Thursday will reach 62. The 40s to 60s range remains into the following Saturday before Sunday runs 51 to 73 degrees.
- Key West: The Southernmost Point will only hit the 60s on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, not venturing below or above. After starting the week pre-holiday in the 70s, it won’t hit 70 again until the following Saturday.
- Jacksonville: The New Year’s Eve range is forecast at 33 to 55, with “feels-like” lows around 28. New Year’s Day climbs from 36 around 6 a.m. to 60 at 3 p.m.
- Gainesville: The 40s arrive around 3 a.m. Tuesday. Gators territory dips just under freezing to 31 at 6 a.m. New Year’s Eve Wednesday, with a “feel-like” 27. The highs will hit 56 by the late afternoon. New Year’s Day Thursday ranges from 34 to 61.
- Tampa: The first hit of the 40s arrives after midnight Tuesday, dipping to 42 at 6 a.m. and hitting 60 at 2 p.m. New Year’s Day runs 46 to 65.
- Sanibel-Captiva: The beautiful beaches region of Florida was battered by dual hurricanes, including Milton in 2024. Recovery is ongoing at sites and the beaches and hotels and many restaurants are back in business, with some, like Mucky Duck, requiring more rebuilding. New Year’s Eve runs 49 to 62. New Year’s Day should be 53 to 65.
When will South Florida warm up?
The New Year’s cool-down will lead to milder temperatures by the post-holiday weekend, with winds winding down and comfier temperatures from the 60s to 70s resuming, forecasters say.
This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM.
