More beautiful weather in store

Expect cool temperatures and plenty of sun.

The cold snap hitting South Florida should last through Thursday morning, giving us overnight lows in the 40s and daytime highs in the 60s and 70s.

Despite the colder temperatures, the sun will stay out and there is virtually no chance of rain.

“The cold front moved through on Saturday, it’s been hanging around for the last two days and should hang around for at least a few more days,” said Robert Molleda, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.

Temperatures on Tuesday will be in the low- to mid-70s and likely will cool into the upper 60s Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The low temperature Tuesday night will be around the mid- to upper-40s with winds from the north at about 6 mph.

Overnight lows likely will be coldest on Wednesday night, but remaining in the low to mid-40s in the state’s interior and the low 50s in coastal areas.

Tuesday’s high is expected to approach 73. Wednesday’s high is forecast to only reach about 67.

It’s normal for cold fronts to sweep through and bring a chill to the southern half of the Sunshine State, although the last two years have been rela-

tively mild, Molleda said.

In the northwest part of the state on the border of Alabama, winter weather blanketed the “Welcome to Florida” sign in snow on Saturday, according to NorthEscambia.com, an online newspaper serving North Escambia County.

Freezes and snowfall in Florida “may happen once or twice a year,” Molleda said. “That’s what kind of makes it a rarity or a novelty.”

The cool temperatures stay in the forecast on Thursday, when the high will be about 70, but will begin thawing on Friday.

After that, it will be noticeably warmer on Saturday when it will be sunny with a high near 75 and Sunday when the forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 79.

On Monday, overnight temperatures led Broward County to declare a “cold weather emergency.”

People who need information about the shelters may call the Broward County Homeless Hotline at 954-563-4357.