Miami Sees Coldest Weekend in Years

by Matthew Diaz

On Monday, Feb. 2, freshman Pablo Izquierdo tries to stay warm. (Photo Credit: Benjamin Hayes)

Over the past weekend, Miami and much of South Florida were hit by a rare Arctic cold front that pushed temperatures far below what the region normally sees in winter.

 Meteorologists with the National Weather Service issued freeze warnings for parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties as temperatures dipped into the low 30s.

With wind chills feeling even colder  the coldest air the area has seen in more than a decade. This unusual weather followed a strong cold front moving down from the northern United States, bringing rain, gusty winds, and rapidly dropping temperatures that surprised many local residents and weather forecasters as well. 

The sudden chill is already having noticeable effects across the community. Farmers and nursery owners in Southwest Miami Dade are racing to protect more tropical plants by covering them with tarps and moving them to sheltered areas because prolonged cold can kill species that normally thrive in warm weather. Animal shelters and pet owners have also scrambled to bring animals indoors to keep them safe from the freeze, while schools and local officials issued cold weather advisories urging students and residents to stay warm. 

Perhaps the most striking impact has been seen in local wildlife. South Florida’s green iguanas  cold-blooded reptiles common in the region  have been left cold by the chill, becoming immobile and even falling from trees as temperatures dropped near freezing. Removal companies reported collecting hundreds or even thousands of cold stunned or dead iguanas and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission temporarily relaxed rules so the public can transport these reptiles to designated drop off locations.

Columbus Reaction

And several students have been feeling the impact at school.

"It's horrible. I hate this weather. Walking from class to class, I am freezing," said freshman Andrew Hernandez.

"I thought Miami was supposed to be hot," added senior Brandon Pineyro.

These unusual scenes have become a symbol of how the cold snap is affecting Miami and usual tropical locations as a whole.