Cold front to bring lows in 40s

A double-shot of chill is forecast to set up South Florida with temperatures this week 8 to 12 degrees below what’s normal.

The first dose of winter air sneaked in behind Monday’s cold front, which rushed through the state with wind gusts at Palm Beach International Airport as high as 43 mph.

That should leave morning temperatures at the coast in the low to mid-50s, dropping into the 40s inland, according to the National Weather Service.

Daytime highs today and Wednesday will struggle to reach 70 degrees before another blast of cool, dry air marks Thursday as the coldest day of the week with lows in the upper 40s at the coast dipping into the upper 30s near Lake Okeechobee.

Andrew Hagen, a meteorologist with the NWS in Miami, said the third winter storm to hit the northeast this month is to blame for the patch of cold temperatures.

“That pattern started right at the beginning of March and is definitely different than what we were getting in February when there was high pressure and no cold fronts,” Hagen said.

March has been more of a roller coaster with Sunday’s high at PBIA reaching 86 degrees. Two days earlier, the temperature peaked at 68.

There’s no significant rain in the forecast through Friday, and the weekend is showing a paltry 20 percent chance.

While the sunny skies will please spring breakers, they should be wary of rip currents at the beach, which are expected to be a concern through Friday.

As far as temperatures go, tourists from the snow-sacked north may not mind 70-degree days.

“It’s probably warmer than wherever they are from,” Hagen said.