Much cooler weather heading for South Florida

It’s the tale of two cold fronts — one rather weak and the other bringing some very chilly temperatures.

The weaker front began to reach South Florida Friday with periods of wet weather early in the day and strong winds later.

The blustery winds will stick around through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday is forecast to be partly sunny with a high near 75 and winds from the east at 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

Because of the heavy winds, there’s a high risk of rip currents at all area beaches through Saturday evening. The winds are expected to diminish somewhat on Sunday when it will be mostly sunny with a high approaching 80 and winds from the southeast at about 10 mph. By Sunday, the next cold front, the stronger one, will be pushing its way south from the northern part of the state.

“As the front moves into South Florida on Monday, not only will rain chances be on the rise, but the potential of some thunderstorms cannot be ruled out,” the weather service said in its forecast discussion.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and a high of about 74, according to the weather service.

By Tuesday it will be noticeably cooler with a high only near 67. Winds will be from the north at about 14 mph with gusts up to 18 mph. Tuesday night’s low temperatures are forecast to be in the low 50s around the metropolitan areas and hitting the 40s in the western regions.

It will remain on the cool side Wednesday with a high near 68 before warming up at little on Thursday when the high will approach 73.

JOE CAVARETTA/SUN SENTINEL Rivers Asherman, age 16 months, is bundled up Thursday for his morning walk in Oakland Park.