South Florida temperatures in the 40s, and it's about to get even colder
MIAMI - South Florida bundled up Friday morning as temperatures ranged from the upper 40s to the low 50s. When you factor in the wind chill, it feels like the mid-40s.
The morning got off to a cloudy start with a few isolated sprinkles and drizzle around. It will be cool and breezy throughout the day as highs will only be in the upper 50s & low 60s in the afternoon under partly sunny skies. The average high in Miami is 76 degrees. The chance of rain is low, but a stray shower will be possible.
The coldest air arrives Friday night as lows will tumble to mostly the mid to upper 40s.
"Feels-like" temperatures in the upper 30s across South Florida
When you factor in the wind chill, it will feel like the upper 30s and low 40s across South Florida. Extra layers will be needed on Saturday morning. We continue with breezy conditions with gusts as high as 20 miles per hour. Highs will struggle to reach 70 degrees with more sunshine and mainly dry conditions.
Sunday morning lows will be closer to normal around 60 degrees and highs will be comfortable in the low to mid-70s with a mix of sun and clouds.
We'll enjoy a dry and warmer stretch next week. Monday highs will climb to the upper 70s. The Lows will be in the low 60s and the highs will be near 80 degrees early to the middle of next week.
What is the record coldest temperature in Miami?
The lowest temperature recorded in Miami was 30 degrees on Dec. 25, 1989, and Jan. 22, 1985. In Fort Lauderdale, the record low was 28 degrees on Jan. 20, 1977, according to weather and climate statistics Current Results.
In other parts of South Florida, such as La Belle, temperatures have dropped to 19 degrees on Jan. 20, 1997.
Temperatures this low are extremely rare due to South Florida's subtropical climate and proximity to warm ocean currents. The closest South Florida usually gets to freezing is during occasional strong cold fronts in the winter.
How cold does it have be to snow in Miami?
For snow to occur in Miami, the temperature would need to be below freezing, which is 32 degrees.
Nearly five decades ago, Miami had its first and only snowfall on record in South Florida, on Jan. 19, 1977.
The snow fell as far south as Homestead and flakes even fell on the sandy shores of Miami Beach. The next day The Miami Herald's read: "The Day It Snowed in Miami."
South Florida residents, young and old, couldn't believe their eyes and still remember where they were the day it snowed. The cold front that brought the snow also brought cold temperatures that caused severe damage to Florida's crops.
The state's citrus and vegetable industries were nearly wiped out and some 150,000 migrant workers lost their jobs in the state, including 80,000 in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Then-Gov. Reubin Askew declared a state of emergency.
Record-breaking snow in Florida
A major and historic winter storm slammed the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday with widespread record-breaking snowfall.
Some areas in the Florida Panhandle recorded over half a foot of snow shattering long-standing snow records.
