Cold front to usher in lows in the 50s for parts of South Florida this weekend

South Florida is trading the warmth and humidity for a refreshing taste of fall this weekend. A cold front moving through early this afternoon will usher in cooler, drier air, with clouds gradually clearing by the evening. That will set the stage for a chilly Saturday morning, with forecast lows of 59 degrees at Miami International Airport, 57 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and 68 in Key West.

Those temperatures bring back memories of March. Miami recorded a low of 59 on March 22, Fort Lauderdale dropped to 57 on March 18, and Key West reached 68 on March 24. Those spring readings offer a reminder of just how long South Florida has waited for this kind of break from the heat.

Saturday’s afternoon temperatures will also feel noticeably different, with highs only reaching the low-70s in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Mostly sunny skies, much lower humidity and a northerly breeze will make for a crisp, comfortable day. Another cool start Sunday will give way to a milder afternoon as winds begin turning northeast.

The cooldown won’t last long. As winds turn more easterly early next week, air flowing in from the Atlantic will bring warmer mornings and increasing humidity. In fact we may see morning 70s again by Monday. Afternoon highs will climb toward the upper 70s and low 80s, with more clouds and returning showers.