Arctic chill to bring 30s for first time in 11 years to Miami

02:41

Florida could see record cold as arctic air surges south

The mild air across the eastern half of the country on Friday will be short-lived as another blast of arctic air will drop out of Canada behind the nor’easter. Freezing temperatures will be felt as far south as Orlando Sunday morning. The coldest air in more than a decade is forecast across south Florida where temperatures will dip into the 30s.

MIAMI – Floridians living Miami will be grabbing the blankets this weekend, as the coldest temperatures in over 11 years arrive Sunday morning.

The chill will sure be felt with a low bottoming out to 38 degrees. The last time temperatures dropped below 40 degrees in Miami was on Dec. 28, 2010.

(FOX Weather)

A 1966 record in Lakeland could be broken Sunday morning when temperatures reach a low of 27 degrees. Orlando, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale could also see record cold. 

(FOX Weather)

The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement on Wednesday warning of a strong cold front that will move down the Florida Peninsula Friday night, then off the southeastern Florida coast during the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. 

(FOX Weather)

Temperatures on Saturday are forecast to not get out of the 50s over most of the area, and even southern areas around Miami may struggle to reach 60 degrees under clearing skies and gusty northwesterly winds.

This will set the stage for the coldest night and morning, which will likely be Saturday night and Sunday morning. Temperatures in Orlando will struggle to reach 50 degrees Saturday afternoon before dropping below freezing overnight into Sunday morning.

(FOX Weather)

The NWS said probabilities for freezing temperatures early Sunday morning are increasing over inland southwestern Florida, primarily Glades, Hendry, inland Collier and inland Palm Beach counties well away from Lake Okeechobee. 

In these areas, the duration of temperatures of 32 degrees or below could be as much as four hours. 

(FOX Weather)

Over the rest of the area, low temperatures Sunday morning are forecast to range from the mid-30s over the outlying suburbs of the east and west coasts, upper 30s along the Gulf coast and upper 30s to lower 40s over most of metro southeastern Florida.

(FOX Weather)

The lowest wind chill readings early Sunday could be in the 20s around Lake Okeechobee, and near 30 to the lower 30s elsewhere.

Another cold night is expected Sunday night and Monday morning, and although it may not be as cold as Sunday morning, freezing temperatures and frost may still be a possibility over interior areas around Lake Okeechobee.

Miamians can expect gradual warming to seasonable temperatures through the start of next week, with no rain in sight.