South Florida's "Big Chill" Begins Monday Night
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A cold front will move through South Florida Monday evening and by Tuesday morning, temperatures will be considered bitter – by South Florida standards.
For those people that don't enjoy cold weather, the cool snap will only last a couple of days.
The temperature change from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning will be 30 to 40 degrees in most areas.
Some of the coldest "feels like" temperatures expected in South Florida Tuesday morning will be in the suburbs of Northwestern Broward County.
Monday night as the temperatures started to drop, few people were seen dining outdoors at the Promenade in Coconut Creek.
One Greek Restaurant had lit heat torches in the event patron's wanted to have their meal outdoors.
Coconut Creek, Parkland, and Coral Springs were expecting wind chills in the upper 30's Tuesday.
Coral Springs Fire Captain Mike Moser said his department expects to get calls for service Tuesday from residents who smelled smoke.
"Most of the time, it's because they used a space heater for the first time or turned on their heat for the first time," Moser said.
By Tuesday morning, low temperatures are expected to be in the middle 40s for most of the eastern coast of South Florida.
Interior portions of Glades and Hendry County will be in the middle 30s and could even drop to the lower 30s. A freeze watch is in effect for both counties.
Wind chill values Tuesday morning will be the 30s for most of South Florida as winds are expected to reach sustained readings of 15-25 miles per hour out of the north with higher gusts near 30 miles per hour.
Pets that live outdoors and are not accustomed to chilly air should be given shelter or brought indoors for the night.
Plants that are sensitive to cold temperatures should be brought indoors. Those that cannot should be covered overnight with materials such as sheets or burlap – not plastic.
Tuesday, temperatures will only rebound to the lower 60s.
Warmer air will begin to return by Wednesday night as a breeze out of the east builds.
Showers will be possible Wednesday through Friday.
Temperatures will gradually return to the lower 80s by the weekend.
