Miami is breaking heat records and has an advisory — next, a cold front. What to know

A heat advisory was issued Saturday for Miami-Dade, the second day in a row, with highs in the lower- to mid-90s and “feels-like” temperatures up to 108.

Before Friday, the last time a heat advisory was issued for the Miami area was on Sept. 1. Heat advisories don’t usually come this late in the year, even in steamy South Florida.

“It is unusual,” agreed Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Miami. “We usually see them in July, August, September. It is very unusual to see them in October.”

On Friday the 13th, Miami broke a high daily temperature record for the second consecutive day when highs hit 95 at Miami International Airport.

And that’s not the only extreme. Florida faces a cool-down after the weekend.

The last time temperatures dropped below 70 in Miami was on May 20 as the low dipped to 69. The last time South Florida experienced lower-60s temperatures was a week’s stretch from March 15 to March 22 when we chilled at a continuous 59 to 65.

What to know about the heat, the advisory and the cool-down:

Record high temperature

Miami and Fort Lauderdale both set daily Oct. 13 records on Friday, the weather service reported late in the afternoon.

▪ Miami hit a high of 95 degrees at Miami International Airport, breaking a record of 93 degrees set for the Oct. 13 date in 1990.

▪ Fort Lauderdale soared to 93, topping the Oct. 13, 2006, record of 91 degrees.

This is the second consecutive day a high daily temperature record was broken in Miami-Dade, CBS News Miami meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez reported. On Thursday, a 93 degree reading at Miami International Airport broke the old daily record for the Oct. 12 day set in 2020. West Palm Beach tied the record high temperature, also at 93, set Oct. 12, 1943.

Heat advisory

What’s causing the heatwave? “We have a southwesterly flow with a front over Central Florida that’s causing the flow over the surface to be from the southwest and that’s drawing a lot of moisture into the area. On top of that, being warmer air, it’s also very humid. So it’s helping draw those ‘feels-like’ temperatures,” Torres-Vazquez told the Miami Herald.

The heat index: Summer-like temperatures this mid-October weekend period led to Friday’s advisory through 6 p.m., with the possibility of a similar advisory for Saturday, when temperatures are expected to remain with highs in the lower-to mid-90s and heat index values across South Florida between 105 and 108. Heat index measure air temperature and humidity.

Additional heat advisories could be issued for Broward and Palm Beach counties Friday depending on how much cloud cover persists through the morning hours, the weather service said.

Affected areas: Inland, metro, coastal and far South Miami-Dade. The advisory includes the areas of Miami, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Kendale Lakes, Carol City, and Mahogany Hammock and Royal Palm Ranger in the Everglades. A slight cool-down is expected on Sunday, with temperatures in mid-upper 80s with the passage of a cold front, the weather service said.

Scattered thunderstorms are in Saturday evening’s forecast — 60%, though for parts of South Florida some rumbled through the area Saturday morning. Rain chances are low from Sunday into the workweek.

Safety tips: Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing, a hat and use sunscreen to protect your face and scalp from harmful UV rays, CBS Miami’s Lissette Gonzalez said. “If you must be outdoors, slow down, take breaks in a shaded or cool area, and drink cool fluids every hour. If you feel lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint, seek medical attention immediately,” she added.

Cold front

Timing: “Still some uncertainty with the timing. Some models are trying to bring in [the cold front] a little later on Sunday than previously anticipated,” Torres-Vazquez said. “That would mean that the colder air might take a little bit longer to get here, though we’re still still looking at lows in the low- to mid-60s for most of Miami Sunday night, Monday night and even into Tuesday.”

Forecast highs: Highs on Monday would be in low 80s, and on Tuesday could drop to highs of 78, 79. “We’re going to be flirting with that kind of range.”