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Miami party girls (and our annual migration of snow birds) may not be thrilled to learn their New Year’s Eve outfits may need a few extra layers this year.
That’s because National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters are predicting a frigid cold front to creep into South Florida Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, giving some residents a taste of freezing temperatures. So don’t be surprised if you see more fur than skin this New Year’s Eve.
How Cold Will Miami Be on New Year’s Eve?
Forecasters expect temperatures in Miami to dip to 47 degrees (with a high of 67 degrees), according to NWS. But farther north in Palm Beach County, temps could drop to 33 degrees, and wind gusts up to 20 mph may make it feel as low as 28 degrees. While that temperature may sound frigid for a South Florida winter, it’s actually shy of the record low of 34 degrees recorded in Miami in 1917. Still, NWS forecasters are advising residents in the Lake Okeechobee region and in interior Southwest Florida to take precautions for outdoor plants and pets.
Seasoned South Floridians will tell you that temperature means two things: the puffer coats and boots are coming out, and frozen iguanas may fall from trees. Green iguanas are cold-blooded reptiles, meaning their internal temperature regulation depends entirely on their external environment. When temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, iguanas’ bodies go into a cold-induced paralysis, leaving them frozen in place or, more often than one might imagine, falling out of trees.
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How Cold Will Miami Be on New Year’s Day?
Many will be thrilled to learn forecasters are predicting warmer regards when we meet 2026. Temperatures are expected to return closer to Miami’s normals, with a high of 70 degrees and a low of 51, according to NWS. The coldest New Year’s Day on record was in 1918 for Miami (36 degrees), 1949 for Fort Lauderdale (34 degrees), and 1918 for West Palm Beach (35 degrees).
How Cold Does It Usually Get in Miami on New Year’s Eve?
According to averages calculated by NWS, New Year’s Eve in Miami and Fort Lauderdale is typically 69 degrees, while West Palm Beach is slightly cooler at 67 degrees. Average temperatures for New Year’s Day were identical.
