MIAMI (CBS4) – While it has been a very warm winter so far across South Florida, that all changed Monday night courtesy of a potent cold front that swept across the area.

Late Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a Wind Chill Advisory for all of South Florida until 9 a.m. Wednesday.

CBS4 meteorologist Jeff Berardelli said a real shot of arctic air has arrived in South Florida. Sometimes called the Siberian Express, this air actually originates in Siberia. As the cold air surged south morning lows were in the mid 40s to low 50s.

Because the cold air was still pouring south all day the temperatures struggled to rise only climbing a few degrees into the mid 50s. Winds gusted today to about 40 mph. As the sun sets temperatures are now plummeting.

An Arctic frontal boundary currently draped across North Florida will slide down south to reinforce the cold air already in place. Tuesday night will be even colder with some inland areas potentially plummeting to the freezing mark or below. Sensitive plants and pets should be brought inside.

Winds will decrease gradually leading to cold air settling in at the surface due to radiational cooling. The air is extremely dry as well.

All this will lead to frigid cold temperatures overnight and by morning. Lows close to the Everglades will be near 32 degrees and because of this a Freeze Warning has been issued for areas of Inland & Southwest Metro Miami-Dade County, near West Kendall, and Inland Broward county.

In the metro areas, like downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale, temperatures will be closer to the upper 30s. Although this is 20-25 degrees below normal, record lows are not likely as the record in both cities is 32 degrees.

After Wednesday’s frigid start temperatures will gradually moderate later in the week.  High temperatures on Wednesday will warm up slightly to the low 60s and Thursday morning will still be chilly with lows in the 40s. Thursday afternoon will be cool and comfortable with highs in the upper 60s.

Expect a milder trend Friday and into the weekend with cool nights in the 50s and highs in the mid to upper 70s.