PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Most South Florida residents and visitors woke up to warm, muggy conditions on Friday, and while rain may soak some midday parades and barbecues, meteorologists say skies should clear in time for Fourth of July fireworks.
“We’re celebrating and you will be able to see the fireworks,” said Local 10 meteorologist Julie Durda during Friday morning’s broadcast. “It’ll be dark, it’ll be a little cloudy, but the in-house model is showing drier conditions in the evening—just in time to enjoy the festivities.”
Temperatures across Miami-Dade, Broward and the Florida Keys were in the upper 70s and low to mid-80s early Friday. With dew points in the upper 70s, it already feels like the upper 80s to low 90s across much of the region.
Durda said an approaching system will bring showers to the Keys and coastal Miami-Dade and Broward counties later Friday morning, with widespread afternoon rain possible just as people begin gathering for holiday celebrations.
But the forecast improves by nightfall.
“We will notice that rain diminishing and we’ll be able to see the fireworks shows just like what we’re showing you right now,” Durda said.
Afternoon highs are expected to reach the upper 80s to low 90s, but saturated ground from nearly a week of steady rainfall means localized flooding remains a concern.
She said South Florida remains under a Level 1 flood risk Friday.
Some lingering Saharan dust could make for a colorful sunrise, forecasters said.
Meanwhile, meteorologists are keeping an eye on a system off the Southeast coast that has a 50% chance of development over the next two days and a 60% chance through the weekend.
Early models suggest any development would be weak and unlikely to significantly affect South Florida.
Durda said the further the system drifts from the region, the better the outlook will be for next week.
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