Miami is trading flip-flops for fleece this week as a strong cold front barrels through South Florida, delivering temperatures not seen in more than 100 years. By Tuesday morning, thermometers are expected to dip near 48 degrees—cold enough to tie a record set in 1913 and give locals a serious case of weather whiplash.
The National Weather Service says the coldest air of the season is moving in late Monday, sending overnight temperatures tumbling into the upper 40s and low 50s. Add brisk northern winds to the mix, and it’ll feel even colder, with wind chills in the low 40s around sunrise. Veterans Day will dawn clear but crisp, one of the chilliest on record, with daytime highs struggling to crack 68 degrees.
For a city where “winter wardrobe” usually means a light hoodie, this is serious sweater weather. And it’s not just people feeling the freeze. South Florida’s infamous green iguanas might be in for a rude awakening or, rather, a sudden nap. When temperatures dip below 50, these reptiles become sluggish. Drop into the mid-40s, and they can literally fall from trees.
“They look dead, but they’re not,” Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill explained in a 2022 interview during a past cold snap. “They’re just stunned.” So don’t panic if you see a few motionless lizards on the sidewalk Tuesday morning, they’ll thaw out once the sun returns.
Still, this cold blast isn’t without side effects. Small craft advisories are in effect for coastal waters and rip current risks remain elevated. The strong winds sweeping through Biscayne Bay and along the beaches will keep things feeling brisk well into the afternoon.
If there’s any comfort, it’s that Miami’s brush with winter will be brief. By Wednesday, morning lows will rebound into the 60s and, by Friday, highs should climb back to the low 80s. Order will be restored.
In the meantime, dig out that long-forgotten jacket, grab a cafecito to go and maybe snap a rare selfie in your cold-weather gear. This kind of chill doesn’t stick around long but, for one night at least, Miami gets to pretend it has seasons. Just watch our for falling iguanas.