Florida faces first winter cold snap of the season
Temperatures are forecast to drop into the 30s and 40s across the state by Friday morning, marking the first winterlike chill of 2026.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
A low-pressure system moving south from the northern Plains will drive a cold air mass into Florida this week, bringing the state's first winterlike cold spell. Meteorologists forecast temperatures to fall into the 50s across South Florida, the upper 40s in Central Florida, and the upper 30s to low 40s in North Florida and the Panhandle by Friday morning.
The cold front is expected to push through the state on Thursday afternoon. In North Florida, highs will reach the low 70s before temperatures drop rapidly into the low to mid-40s overnight. Gainesville is forecast to see its lowest temperatures on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with lows potentially reaching 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Jacksonville is expected to hit a low of 41 degrees on Saturday morning, a reading last recorded there on March 18, 2026.
Parts of the Panhandle may experience frost during morning hours. Interior areas north of Interstate 10 could see temperatures drop into the 30s overnight. For reference, Tallahassee last recorded a low below 40 degrees on April 21, 2026, and below 38 degrees on March 20, 2026. Pensacola last reached 38 degrees on March 18, 2026.
Central Florida will see patchy fog develop over the next few nights. Clouds will linger from Wednesday night into Thursday, clearing by Friday morning. As skies clear, temperatures will drop into the 40s across the Interstate 4 corridor by Saturday evening. Orlando is forecast to have a low of 47 degrees on Saturday morning, while areas near Tampa Bay will stay near 50 degrees. Both regions last recorded temperatures below 50 degrees on March 18, 2026.
South Florida will start the week dry, with rain chances increasing on Wednesday across the Everglades and interior parts of Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Collier counties. An isolated thunderstorm is possible in the afternoon as the approaching front increases instability. Temperatures in the region could fall into the mid to upper 50s from Friday night through Sunday morning.
Winds will shift to the northwest at 5 to 10 miles per hour, with gusts up to 20 miles per hour on Thursday and Friday. Southwest Florida may be slightly cooler, with temperatures potentially dropping into the low 50s from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Naples last recorded a low of 52 degrees or below on March 18, 2026.
In Miami, the low temperature is forecast to drop to 60 degrees, a reading last seen there on March 22, 2026. Inland areas from Kendall northward through Coral Springs may see temperatures drop into the upper 50s. Drier air and stronger winds are expected to create elevated fire danger on Thursday and Friday, with relative humidity levels dropping significantly.
