Miami Could Set Heat Record This Week

MIAMI (CBS4) – We've all heard of the 'dog days of Summer' but we've going through the dog days of Winter so far this year.

As of Tuesday, Miami has had 14 consecutive days of temperatures above 80F. The record for the most consecutive days of 80 degrees temperatures and about in Miami in the month of January is 15 days set in 2002.

Since the CBS4 Weather Team forecast calls for highs in the 80s Thursday and Friday, it looks fairly certain that Miami will at least tie the record on Wednesday and break it on Thursday. The 2002 streak in Miami extended into early February with a total of 18 consecutive days.

Our average high for this time of year should be around 76 degrees, according to CBS4 meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez who added we've also see unseasonably warm temperatures in the morning hours the past few days with record-breaking lows in Broward, Miami-Dade and the Keys.

Temperatures have remained mostly in the 80s and above average for the past few weeks due to high pressure dominating the weather pattern and the jet stream pushing well to the North across the eastern half of the country. This set up helps to block cold fronts and has kept the bulk of the cold, wet and wintry weather off to the West.

Forecast models indicate a cold front approaching this Friday. Ahead of it, highs will soar close to the mid 80s on Friday with a few more showers. Saturday a lingering shower can't be ruled out. But there is not a lot of cold air behind this front. By the time it reaches South Florida we will just see lower humidity and temperatures will dip down a few degrees to the upper 70s.

High pressure building in behind the front will lead to breezy conditions with highs closer to normal for our so-called South Florida "Winter."