Gorgeous weather in store for MLK Day as South Florida temps warm

The big chill that gripped South Florida in recent days started to yield to warmer conditions Monday with sunny skies and temperatures hovering around 70, making for a comfortable day of Martin Luther King Day parade watching and, perhaps, a little shopping for retail discounts.

For most of South Florida, the National Weather Service in Miami is forecasting a sunny day coupled with clear skies and high temperatures near 71. Winds were expected to be a calmer force than over the weekend, around 5 mph during the afternoon.

“Looking like a spectacular day across South Florida with plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s,” the service said in its 8 a.m. update. “Enjoy!”

Monday’s nighttime lows were expected to be about 56 with calm winds.

On Tuesday, the forecast calls for another sunny day with a high near 76. Winds are expected to reach 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. The nighttime hours will be mostly clear, with a low around 60 and south winds around 6 mph.

By the time Thursday and Friday roll around, the highs will have returned to the low 80s, with the top temperature reaching 82 and overnight lows in the mid 60s, forecasters say.

Along the tri-county area’s beaches, though, the weather service continues to warn of hazardous offshore conditions in the form of rip currents along the coasts of Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties through 7 p.m. Monday.

“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” forecasters advised early Monday.

“Swim near a lifeguard,” the advisory said. “If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.”