Florida will end 2025 with cold temperatures, which for some areas could be the coldest of the season so far.
A cold front pushing south early Tuesday will open up the gates for a frigid air mass to dominate the Sunshine State just in time to receive the new year.
ALSO READ: Holiday warm spell to end with cold front passage
Once the front moves through, temperatures will fall quickly, and from Tuesday through New Year’s Day conditions are forecast turn noticeably colder. Breezy north-northwest winds will suppress temperatures even more,
The freezing line could push as far south as Central Florida, where temperatures will drop into the mid-30s on Wednesday morning and may remain in the upper 30s on Thursday morning. This will likely align with the temperatures experienced during the last strong front in December.
In Central Florida, the coldest air is expected to arrive Tuesday night, with lows approaching freezing over the interior as far south as northeast Hillsborough and northwest Polk counties.
Along the Nature Coast, expect freezing temps and wind chills in the upper 20s to low 30s.
North Florida will experience its coldest day Wednesday morning, with temps in the 20s to the lower 30s.
In recent weeks, several cold fronts have moved across the Southeast but have fizzled before reaching South Florida, although North Florida, the Panhandle and Central Florida have experienced cold spells in November and December.
The coldest day was Nov. 11, when temperatures dropped to 49 degrees in Miami. Since then, a couple of cold fronts have lowered temperatures, but only to around mid-50s.
The season has remained warmer-than-average. However, Wednesday afternoon temperatures will struggle to reach 70 across South Florida, and Thursday morning could record the coldest temperatures of the season in Miami, with a low of about 48 forecast for Jan. 1.
Ready for a cold goodbye to 2025? Dust off the jackets and boots, the cold air will linger through the start of 2026. Be careful with the fireworks, it will be extra dry and dangerous for fires. pic.twitter.com/NwQGYuw8uz
— Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) (@FloridaStorms) December 29, 2025
Following the cold front, strong north winds will make the seas rough. There are small-craft advisories already in effect along the east coast of Florida through Martin County. The advisories will likely be expanded along the southeast Florida coast for Tuesday and Wednesday
The north wind will not only usher in very cold temperatures for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, but also bring very dry conditions. This front does not bring much-needed rain to much of the state, where we continue to face a drought.
Nonetheless, we’re expecting the dry air to settle in, and this will also likely prompt burn bans across Florida. Be careful with any fireworks you might be planning to use to celebrate the end of 2025. Dispose of them correctly and safely. There’s plenty of driver agitation, and if any strong ones remain, fires that start could quickly spread.
