While this season’s cooler weather is not over yet, the worst of the winter storm expected to brush Florida over the weekend will not reach Palm Beach County.
The county will get colder temperatures from an air mass related to the winter storm, but they will not be as “dramatic” as the previous cold front, said Anthony Reynes, a senior forecaster with National Weather Service Miami.
The last cold front hit Palm Beach County late last week.
“This is an air mass that is coming from the northern latitudes, which is very similar to what happened in the previous cold spell,” Reynes said. “It’s just that this one doesn’t have enough energy to come all the way down here to Florida, like the previous one.”
The next strong cold front will likely reach Palm Beach County early next week, from Jan. 26 into Jan. 27, Reynes said.
People can expect temperatures to drop around the low 60s for the Lake Okeechobee region from late Jan. 23 into early Jan. 24 and again from late Jan. 24 into Jan. 25. The metro areas of Palm Beach County — including West Palm Beach — will likely stay warmer, hovering at about 70 degrees on the weekend nights, Reynes said.
What is causing the winter storm?
The winter storm expected to bring snow and ice from the southern Plains to the Northeast starting Jan. 23 is sprouting from a sharp trough that is developing over the northern parts of the United States, Reynes said.
The trough will interact with the jet stream and a “very cold” arctic air mass coming from the northern latitudes, he said.
What cold weather is ahead for Palm Beach County and Florida?
The weather in South Florida will be “unsettled” for the next few days, according to the NWS.
There will be warmer and drier conditions over the weekend and then a strong cold front will hit the area on Jan. 26. Cooler temperatures will remain through the middle of next week, according to the NWS.
There is a high risk for rip currents in Palm Beach County through Jan. 22. The slow-moving front over the southeastern United States will stay north of South Florida through Jan. 24.
Scattered rain showers are expected through Jan. 24. Still, the county is experiencing a drought.
Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Cold weather alert: Will the winter storm reach Palm Beach County?
Reporting by Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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