The swampy summer air has retreated from South Florida for now.
Flickr via David Goehring
It’s time to dust off your Uggs (or Fuggs) and pull that one musty coat you own out of the closet — the first cold front of the fall season has finally arrived!
On Thursday morning, South Floridians woke up to the first real taste of fall, courtesy of a cold front sweeping through the region. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami, the front is expected to bring breezy temperatures in the mid-70s to low 80s today and noticeably lower humidity, allowing you to enjoy that morning or afternoon walk without breaking a sweat the second you step outside (a rare Miami treat).
“The cold front we’ve been talking about for days has rolled through on Thursday, and it already feels different out there,” NBC 6 meteorologist Adam Berg said in a forecast.
The cold front is being driven by a trough — an area of lower pressure that helps steer weather systems — and the weather will be breezier than usual due to Hurricane Melissa, according to the NWS. Winds could gust up to 30 mph in some areas, making it feel cooler than the thermometer reads.
The crisp weather is expected to stick around through Halloween and into the weekend, with temperatures dipping into the 50s and low 60s (which, for those keeping count at home, isn’t yet iguana-freezing weather).
For many, the cold front is a welcome break from the relentless summer heat that lingered well into October. Miami saw some of its hottest days on record this year, with heat indexes topping 110 degrees in parts of South Florida in July.
The timing also couldn’t be better for Halloween festivities. Whether you have plans to dress up and go out to an event like the annual Lincoln Road Block Party, or simply pour yourself a glass of your drink of choice and judge costumes from your porch while doling out sugar to children dressed as ghosts and witches, South Floridians can expect clear skies and cooler weather through the weekend.
But come next week, it’ll probably be time to crank up your AC again.
Temperatures are expected to climb back into the 80s by Saturday and Sunday, and there’s a chance of rain by late weekend. Boo!