Florida Polar Vortex Forecast: Arctic Blast Could Strike as South as Miami

2 days ago 4

Meteorologists are raising alarms as Florida braces for an unusual polar vortex that could bring icy temperatures as far south as Miami.

Why It Matters

So far, this winter has seen one of the warmest Decembers on record in much of the northern United States. Though many residents experienced snow around the holidays, snow coverage was still at or near 20-year lows.

However, the polar vortex could bring severe weather conditions, with some forecast models suggesting lobes of the system's frigid airs could push far into the southern United States, including Florida, with the potential to disrupt daily life in a state unaccustomed to such cold extremes.

What To Know

The National Weather Service forecast shows that two cold fronts are set to hit Florida at the beginning of this month, with the first expected to arrive around January 3-4, before the second arrives on January 8. A blast of Arctic air will then hit the state.

During the cold fronts, temperatures are expected to be around freezing in some parts of the state, according to Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather long-range meteorologist. North Florida will have the coldest temperatures, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing after January 8.

In south Florida, including in Miami, temperatures will be in the 40s or 50s range. In central Florida, temperatures will be in the low to mid 40s.

A polar vortex is then expected to reach Florida on January 11 or 12, which could see temperatures drop to around freezing in the south of the state, as far as Miami, DaSilva told TC Palm.

A polar vortex is a stream of cold air that normally spins around the poles high in the stratosphere. The phenomenon, which blasts Arctic air across part of North America, can disrupt weather patterns.

"This looks to be the coldest one for Florida," DaSilva said. He added that currently, the data "supports the idea we could see below-freezing temperatures into central and possibly into South Florida."

"This is going to be an impactful event," he said. But he added that temperatures are unlikely to reach freezing as far as Miami.

It's hard for Arctic air "to get all the way down there, but temperatures could be around the freezing mark. It would take a lot to get Miami around freezing, but interior locations could potentially slip below freezing," he said.

AccuWeather reported that the vortex could prompt "some of the coldest air of the season" during February. It is also expected to hit as far south as Texas.

What People Are Saying

Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather long-range meteorologist, told TC Palm: "Multiple shots of cold air will be coming into the eastern U.S. during the first two weeks of January."

Meteorologist Jesse Walker wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on December 27: "Buckle up, things could get pretty interesting next month!

"NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] has all of our area under a risk of cold temps between January 5-10 and snow between January 4-7.

"NOAA also has us at a risk of colder than normal temps between January 11-24, basically the second half of January."

Meteorologist Ben Noll wrote on X on December 29: "A lobe of the polar vortex threatens to bring some seriously cold and possibly snowy weather to the United States during the week of January 6.

"Frigid air will overtake just about the entire country."