The temperature is about to start dropping, very, very quickly.
Within hours, the arctic trough battering the United States with frigid temperatures and blizzards will plunge South Florida into what might feel like winter.
And while the tropical region may not see temperatures below freezing, the sudden drop will shock the region’s system. Many areas that were in the 80s Friday morning will hit the 40s overnight.
The cold front is moving rapidly across the state, bringing arctic air behind it. The front was located south of Interstate 4 in Central Florida about noon Friday, said Robert Garcia, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
“When I came in at 5, it was somewhere up in Panhandle,” he said. “It’s moving fairly quickly.”
The front is forecast to arrive about 5 or 6 p.m. in South Florida. Soon after, the sun will set.
“Temperatures are pretty much going to start falling,” Garcia said. “There might be a bit of a free fall with that front.”
Forecast
The cold front will bring even colder temperatures to South Florida than predicted earlier this week. Forecasters are now saying to expect lows in the 40s Friday night and in the upper 30s on Christmas Eve.
The National Weather Service issued a Wind Chill Advisory for all of Palm Beach County and inland Broward County that goes into effect between 2 and 10 a.m. Saturday, warning residents to wear warm clothing if they plan to go outside.
“What can be dangerous is if you’re exposed to cold temperatures for a period of time, you could start having issues of frost bite and cold weather illnesses like that,” Garcia said.
The weekend highs were originally forecast to reach the 60s in Broward and Miami-Dade, and the 50s in Palm Beach County, “well below normal,” said Larry Kelly, a National Weather Service Miami meteorologist.
Now, forecasters are saying to expect highs no higher than the 50s on Christmas Eve or Christmas.
“Most folks will not see 60 degrees,” Garcia said. Christmas probably will be even colder during the day.
Isolated areas near Lake Okeechobee could experience near-freezing conditions, and portions of Glades County could go below freezing, but South Florida is not expected to experience a freeze.
The holiday weather, while cold, likely won’t break any records.
The coldest Christmas in Miami reached 30 degrees, Kelly said. “We’re not going to hit those kind of cold temperatures.” That was in 1989, when the low temperature in Fort Lauderdale was 29.
Northern Florida cities such as Tallahassee will see temperatures in the low 20s on Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas night. The forecast calls for temperatures to drop to near freezing as far south as Tampa.
But while it may not break records for coldness, it will linger longer than previous fronts, forecasters now say. It will stay chilly on Monday, with most people waking up to temperatures below 50, with highs only in the mid or upper 60s. By Tuesday afternoon, the temperatures will rise marginally, to about 70 for the high. It may not be until Thursday or Friday that South Florida returns to the 80s.
Why is the cold blast happening?
It all started farther north, as frigid air collected over the snow-covered ground in the Arctic, said Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist in the Atlanta area.
Then the jet stream — wobbling air currents in the middle and upper parts of the atmosphere — began pushing this cold pool down into the U.S.
As this arctic air is pushed into the warmer, moister air ahead of it, the system can quickly develop into serious weather — including what’s known as a “bomb cyclone,” a fast-developing storm in which atmospheric pressure falls very quickly over 24 hours.
The sudden intensity of the cold and its lingering effects are because the system is so strong that it is bringing arctic air to Florida behind the cold front.
“That’s why it’s such a massive change in temperature,” Garcia said. “Basically we are having an arctic air mass that’s invading our beautiful part of the world.”
Cool weather safety
Officials are declaring emergencies and preparing quickly for what’s to come.
On Thursday, Broward County’s Homeless Initiative Partnership, including the Sheriff’s Office’s Homeless Outreach Team and the Multi-Agency Homeless Taskforce, began distributing blankets and cold weather gear to people who are homeless.
Those who need the services, or residents who know somebody who might need help, are encouraged to call the Homeless Helpline at 954-563-4357 or go to the Homeless Services website.
Broward County declared a “cold weather emergency” from 6 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Sunday. The county will activate cold weather shelters from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday at:
Hope South Florida, 1100 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
The Salvation Army, 1445 Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
Palm Beach County cold weather shelters will open if temperatures reach 40 degrees or lower for at least four hours. Plans to open any shelters had not been made as of Thursday afternoon, John Jamason, a spokesperson for the county, said in an email.
Travel
Blizzards and bitter cold across the United States have led to tens of thousands of flight delays and cancellations during one of the busiest travel times of the year.
South Florida airports are anticipating an influx of travelers through the New Year. According to a Broward County news release, the Fort Lauderdale airport is expecting nearly 1.6 million passengers to pass through in the period from Dec. 21 through Jan. 3, 2023, roughly 13% busier than 2021.
Storm delays that already exist have already extended to travelers trying to reach or leave South Florida. Friday is expected to be one of the busiest days at the Fort Lauderdale airport and at Miami International Airport.
“The wisest advice would be for passengers to check with their airlines to see whether their travel will be impacted,” said Arlene Satchell, a spokesperson for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
As of noon Friday, nearly 150 flights have been delayed at the Fort Lauderdale airport and more than 60 were canceled. On Thursday, over 450 flights were delayed and more than 20 were cancelled.
Several airlines including American, United, Delta and Spirit announced waivers of flight change fees for customers heading to and from destinations affected by the storm.
This report was supplemented by information from the Associated Press.
