Profile
Photos
Comments
Cold weather heading to South Florida for next week
It's hot, but mid-week may see low 50s before warmth returns
By Ken Kaye
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
April 4, 2009
Ready for a hot-and-cold roller coaster ride?
Although it wasn't the record-breaking heat forecasters had expected,
South Florida still saw abnormally steamy temperatures in the upper 80s
Friday.
By the middle of next week, the mercury may plunge into the low 50s — a
drop of about 35 degrees, tantamount to a shift from summer to winter
in a matter of days.
It's the result of an unusually potent cold front expected to arrive Monday night.
"It's happened before, but it's very rare for this time of year in
South Florida to have a cold front that strong," said meteorologist
Joel Rothfuss, of the National Weather Service in Miami.
Forecasters initially predicted temperatures might reach the low 90s on
Friday because of sweltering southwest winds. However, unexpected cloud
cover kept temperatures in check.
Today's forecast: Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s and lows in
the low 70s. Sunday and Monday should see afternoon highs in the upper
80s, the weather service said.
By Monday night and Tuesday morning, temperatures are expected to fall
into the mid- to upper 50s. Tuesday afternoon should be breezy and
mild, with readings in the mid-70s.
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning should see the coldest temperatures
of the week, in the low to mid-50s, the weather service said.
That would be about 15 degrees cooler than normal for early April. But
it wouldn't set records. The coldest temperature for April 8,
Wednesday's date, was 42 degrees in 1971.
"It's going to be very cool for this time of year," meteorologist Chuck Caracozza said.
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons should be warm with little rain, he said.
Ken Kaye can be reached at kkaye@sunsentinel.com or 954-385-7911.