South Florida Cold Snap: Record Lows, Mid-20s Wind Chills, and Coastal Storm Impact

Deep Cold Snap Grips South Florida

• 🥶 South Florida experienced its deepest cold snap in over a decade, with temperatures plummeting into the low 30s and wind chills reaching the mid-20s.
• 💨 The wind significantly amplified the cold, making it feel much colder by pulling away body heat and creating unbearable conditions.

Storm System Causes Extreme Cold

• ⛈️ A large storm system moving up the East Coast was responsible for dragging bitter cold air this far south.
• 🌨️ This system caused significant snowfall and hazardous conditions in the Carolinas, with reports of pile-ups on I-85 due to heavy snow and poor visibility.

Record Low Temperatures Recorded

• 🌡️ Several locations in South Florida hit near-freezing temperatures, with Tamiami reaching a brief 30°F, the coldest recorded temperature.
• 🥶 Inland areas like Kendall, Coral Springs, and Weston experienced lows around 33°F, just above freezing.
• 📈 Miami's official low of 35°F marked the coldest air in over 15 years, with a 34°F reading potentially being the coldest since the 1980s.

Lingering Cold and Wind Chills

• 🌬️ Despite sunshine, wind chills remained in the 20s throughout the day, making it feel significantly colder than the actual air temperature.
• ☁️ In the Keys, clouds and light sprinkles were observed due to cold air interacting with the warm Gulf waters, a phenomenon described as "Gulf effect."
• ❄️ Reports of very light flurries were noted near St. Pete and Tampa, though none stuck to the ground.

Outlook for the Coming Week

• 📉 High temperatures are expected to reach only 53°F for the day, with another chilly night in the 30s predicted.
• 🥶 Another night with wind chills in the 20s is anticipated, with two consecutive mornings in the 30s being unusual for the region.
• ⚠️ Temperatures are expected to remain below average all week, with another cold front predicted for Thursday, pushing temperatures back into the 40s by Friday morning.