New forecast: South Florida temperatures to be milder
By Ken Kaye
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
2:09 PM EST, January 15, 2009
Thanks to a thick layer of clouds over South Florida today, temperatures likely won't be as cold as initially forecast tonight or Friday night, the National Weather Service says.
The clouds are acting to keep heat in the atmosphere, said meteorologist Joel Rothfuss.
Instead of the upper 40s, most of South Florida should see temperatures in the low to mid-50s tonight, he said.
At the same time, the clouds prevented the sun from generating heat, keeping afternoon temperatures today in the upper 60s and low 70s, Rothfuss said.
Because winds are expected to pick up, the wind chill, or feels-like temperature, could reach the upper 40s on Friday morning he said.
Afternoon highs on Friday should be in the upper 60s inland and about 70 at the coast. It also should be mostly sunny, Rothfuss said.
Although the weather service initially predicted Friday night would be the coldest point in the current cold spell, temperatures should remain in the low 50s across most of the region.
Far inland Palm Beach County might see readings in the 40s, he said.
For now, officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties have no plans to open homeless shelters.