Things could get wet, windy, wild

A front that caused chaos in the South could bring strong winds, thunderstorms and tornadoes to South Florida beginning this afternoon and going into the evening. Wind gusts could go as high as 60 miles per hour.

A front that caused chaos in the South is expected to barrel into South Florida today, elevating the chance of strong winds, thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The National Weather Service in Miami on Saturday put out a notice of potential severe weather. It warns that cold air masses clashing with warmer temperatures may have an impact throughout South Florida beginning this afternoon and continuing into tonight.

Wind gusts could reach 60 miles per hour. Frequent lightning and heavy rainfall also are expected, along with the possibility of tornadoes and waterspouts.

South Floridians are urged to pay attention to media alerts and be prepared to take shelter in a strong building.

“We are still in the transition period between winter and summer,” said Barry Baxter, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, explaining the elevated risk for severe weather.

After freezing fields and leaving a blanket of snow in Wisconsin on Friday, the system rolled through Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi on Saturday. It caused a tornado blamed for one death in Louisiana, according to weather reports. The system has also caused at least nine other tornadoes.

“It’s been wreaking havoc,” Baxter said.

The main part of the system won’t be on the Gulf Coast side of South Florida until later today, Baxter said, but a line of showers could start ahead of that throughout the region, beginning in the afternoon.

Low temperatures are expected to dip about 5 to 10 degrees from the 70-degree lows the area has been getting, Baxter said. High temperatures will be in the lower 80s.

“It’s going to cool us down a bit,” Baxter said.

These cold fronts can still develop into May, Baxter said. But the time for them is quickly coming to a close.

“We’re not in the summer pattern yet, but we’re getting close,” he said.

ageggis@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6624 or @AnneBoca