Extraordinary weather has been underway in the South Florida region this weekend. If you thought it was cold when you woke up on Wednesday morning, then you are experiencing even colder conditions during this overnight period.
On Saturday afternoon, Miami recorded a high temperature of only 44°, a whopping 32° below the normal 76° for January 9th. The tri-county area will have readings coming close to record territory before sunrise.The entire Sunshine State has seen very unseasonably cold conditions with temperatures only in the teens on the far northern end of Florida while much of the rest of state is raw and damp. It is not exactly the kind of weather you would expect here even for January.
The National Weather Service along with Miami television stations WFOR-TV and WPLG-TV each reported that for the first time since January 19, 1977,
frozen precipitation (mainly snow) was seen falling in the South Florida area, specifically in Oakland Park (north of Fort Lauderdale) and Kendall (southwest of Miami).
Former WCBS-TV on-camera meteorologist Jeff Berardelli of WPLG explained that this occurance rarely happens. He said this might happen once or twice a century there.
For those that live for historic weather events in the most unusual places, then this one was for you. But it won't last long as an expected warming trend will bring temperatures back to seasonal levels with highs near 80° by the end of this week.
For more coverage of the unseasonably cold weather, here are five hyperlinks to check out.
WFOR-TV (Miami) (January 9):
Flurries spotted across South FloridaWPLG-TV (Miami) (January 9):
Snow flurries reported in South FloridaMiami Herald (January 9):
Snow in Dade and Broward!? Search is on for proofSouth Florida Sun-Sentinel (January 9):
Freezing rain, possible snow flurries reported in South FloridaPalm Beach Post (January 9):
Light snow flurries mixed with rain reported in West Palm Beach, western Boynton BeachSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS by the National Weather Service in Miami on January 9, 2010A FREEZE WARNING remains in effect until 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday morning.A FREEZE WATCH is in effect from late Sunday night through Monday morning.The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a Freeze Watch which is in effect from late Sunday night through Monday morning. A Freeze Warning remains in effect until 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday.
Very cold air will continue to move into South Florida overnight. Temperatures are expected to fall into the lower 30s across the area with some locales, mainly west of US 1 in Miami-Dade County to hit or go below the freezing mark.
In addition, a Freeze Watch is in effect for the area Sunday night through Monday morning with freezing temps again possible.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely.
These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible.
These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.A WIND CHILL WARNING remains in effect through 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday morning.The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a Wind Chill Warning which is in effect from 9:00 PM this evening to 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday. The Wind Chill Watch is no longer in effect.
Temperatures are expected to fall into the lower to mid 30s across the area. Northwest winds will remain up overnight and could even increase after midnight with sustained winds of 15 to 20 MPH expected along the coast overnight to 10 to 15 MPH inland. This will lead to wind chill readings in the 30s this evening and falling into the 20s overnight. These are extremely low wind chills for South Florida and can be dangerous if precautions are not taken.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A wind chill warning means dangerously low wind chill values of 25° or colder are expected. Appropriate action should be taken to ensure outdoor pets have adequate protection from the cold temperatures. The elderly and the homeless are especially vulnerable to the cold. If precautions are not taken, this may result in hypothermia if you remain in these conditions for an extended duration.MIAMIWeather conditions from Miami International Airport as of 11:00 PM Eastern time
36°mostly cloudy
Wind Chill: 27°Visibility: 10 miles
Humidity: 78%
Dew Point: 30°
Wind: NW at 13 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 30.22 inches (stationary)
Ceiling: 12,000 feet
Sunday's air quality forecast: Good
OTHER SOUTH FLORIDA REGIONAL OBSERVATIONS...Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport36° clear
Wind: NW at 10 MPH, gusting to 18 MPH
Wind Chill: 29°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 31°. Wind chill values as low as 23°.
West Palm Beach, FL33° fair
Wind: NW at 14 MPH, gusting to 22 MPH
Wind Chill: 23°
Visibility: 9 miles
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 28°. Wind chill values as low as 18°.
Kendall, FL36° clear
Wind: NNW at 16 MPH
Wind Chill: 26°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 31°. Wind chill values as low as 24°.
Hollywood, FL36° clear
Wind: W at 1 MPH
Pembroke Pines, FL (North Perry Airport)
35° clear
Wind: NW at 16 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Wind Chill: 25°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 35°. Wind chill values as low as 28°.
Homestead, FL35° mostly cloudy
Wind: NNW at 17 MPH
Wind Chill: 25°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 28°. Wind chill values as low as 19°.
Pompano Beach, FL36° clear and windy
Wind: NW at 21 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH
Wind Chill: 25°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy and windy. Low around 30°. Wind chill values as low as 21°.
Boca Raton, FL35° clear
Wind: NW at 13 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH
Wind Chill: 27°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy and windy. Low around 31°. Wind chill values as low as 21°.
Opa-locka, FL35° clear
Wind: NNW at 12 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH
Wind Chill: 27°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 32°.
Naples, FL35° clear
Wind: N at 13 MPH
Wind Chill: 26°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 32°. Wind chill values as low as 22°.
Fort Myers, FL (Southwest Florida International Airport)
33° clear
Wind: N at 9 MPH
Wind Chill: 25°
Overnight forecast: Partly cloudy. Low around 30°. Wind chill values as low as 20°.
Key Largo, FL27° mostly cloudy
Wind: WNW at 3 MPH, gusting to 9 MPH
Overnight forecast: Mostly cloudy and windy. Low around 38°. Lowest wind chill readings near 30°.
Marathon, FL43° clear
Wind: N at 18 MPH, gusting to 32 MPH
Wind Chill: 35°
Overnight forecast: Mostly cloudy and windy. Low around 41°. Wind chill values as low as 35°.
Key West, FL50° overcast
Wind: N at 17 MPH, gusting to 28 MPH
Overnight forecast: Cloudy, with a low around 46°. Breezy, with a north wind around 20 MPH.
36-HOUR FORECAST FOR MIAMI (through Monday)...(courtesy of the National Weather Service)
OVERNIGHTPartly cloudy and windy with a steady temperature around 36°. Wind chill values as low as 24°.
Northwest wind around 21 MPH with gusts as high as 26 MPH.
LATER TODAYSunny and windy. High near 52°. Early wind chill values as low as 18°.
North wind between 18 to 21 MPH with gusts as high as 26 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHTMostly clear. Low around 38°. North wind between 10 to 17 MPH with gusts as high as 22 MPH.
MONDAYMostly sunny. High near 63°. Early wind chill values as low as 32°. North wind between 9 to 16 MPH.