Frigid Air Heading To South Florida
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Enjoy the near 80 degree temperatures Monday because they may be gone until Sunday.
Monday night, bone-chilling weather by South Florida standards, will descend on the area and last through midweek.
A freeze watch is in effect for Collier and inland Monroe, Broward, and far south Miami-Dade Counties Tuesday through Wednesday morning.
In addition, a wind chill advisory is in effect for inland Miami-Dade, Broward, Mainland Monroe, and far south Miami-Dade.
The advisory means temperature values could fall into the mid 30's to lower 40's overnight and combined with a 10 mph wind could produce wind chill readings in the upper 20's to mid 30's across the region.
As a result, the Salvation Army is opening its doors Monday to shelter the homeless.
For tourists, Monday's heat was the plan, while Tuesday's cool off may be quite a change.
"This is the kind of weather we were looking for," said beachgoer Jose Hernandez of Monday's weather. "We are coming from Arizona."
Meanwhile, the Broward Outreach Center is expecting a busy night as the temperatures plummet.
"These folks are not used to it," said Mary Anne Diamond of the Broward Outreach Center.
Brieanna Reynolds and Thomas Crown are homeless. They went to the Salvation Army as the temperatures began falling Monday night. Reynolds says she has chronic asthma and the cold is making it worse.
"I barely can breathe right now, I barely can breathe. That's why I'm trying to get in here, so that I can be able to breathe. If it gets any worse I gotta end up in the hospital," said Reynolds.
They are grateful to the shelter for the help.
"This is one of the things that people who are in the homeless situation, they should actually appreciate something like this," said Crown.
The arctic blast is coming from a strong cold front that is dropping from the southeastern U.S. and should push through South Florida Monday as a dry cold front.
By Monday night cold air will surge southward. Temperatures Tuesday morning will be in the low 40s with wind chills near freezing.
Despite bright sun, temperatures will struggle to get out of the 50s on Tuesday with blustery northwest winds near 25 mph gusting to 40 mph.
Tuesday night the winds will subside but temperatures will slide further into the upper 30s in most areas with towns close to the Everglades approaching freezing.
Farmers and people with sensitive plants and outdoor pets should pay close attention in the coming days. The temperatures will slowly moderate later this week.
State officials asked residents and visitors to remember the four p's of cold weather safety: protecting people, plants, pets, and pipes, as well as practicing fire safety.
