Severe weather alert includes tornado chance, hail in Saturday’s South Florida forecast

Howard Cohen
·2 min read

This story has been updated to include a severe weather alert.

After a dry week, with a brief cold front that dropped temperatures to the upper 50s and low 60s for a couple mornings, South Florida is bracing for a patch of possibly rough weather Saturday.

The National Weather Service in Miami is warning of “a developing frontal cyclone forecast to progress toward South Florida this weekend.”

At 4 p.m., the weather service issued a significant weather advisory until 5:15 p.m. to warn of possible tornadoes, damaging wind gusts over 50 mph and hail for much of north and east Miami-Dade.

The service was tracking the area of disturbed weather from a line extending from near Lauderhill to near the Miccosukee Resort with movement east at 30 mph.

These areas could feel the brunt of this passing afternoon storm: Miami, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Pompano Beach, Davie, Miami Beach, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, Margate, Coral Gables, South Miami, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Surfside, Miami Gardens, Virginia Key and Hallandale.

CBS4 meteorologist Craig Setzer also announced the alert, warning people in these communities to move to an interior room away from windows until the storms pass.

The system, which has rain chances of 60% Saturday afternoon into the evening, could bring widespread rainfall — “which may be locally heavy” — and isolated thunderstorms this weekend with gusty winds, possible small hail and waterspouts over coastal waters.

If you’re planning a boating outing, probably reconsider. Marine conditions will be rough into the week.

Rip currents are also marked “high risk” for Palm Beach County beaches and moderate risk for Miami-Dade and Broward into the week, the weather service says.

The City of Miami Beach reported heavy flooding in North Beach and advising resident to drive with caution and avoid driving through flooded areas.

By Sunday morning, the threat is down to 20% and partly cloudy skies, with temperatures ranging from mid-60s mornings to mid-70s afternoons resuming through Friday.