FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fans heading out to celebrate the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup win won’t need to worry too much about the weather — just plan for a possible brief shower to kick off the festivities.
Local 10 meteorologist Julie Durda says Friday starts off mild and dry across South Florida, with cooler morning temperatures thanks to winds shifting in from the north.
“One thing you’ll notice this morning is it actually feels nice,” she said. “It’s a nice mild start.”
Durda says any rain in the area is expected to stay offshore through the morning hours, unlike Thursday when downpours soaked parts of southern Miami-Dade. “That’s not the case today,” she said. “We’re definitely drier as we go into the forecast.”
By Sunday morning — when fans will be packing the Fort Lauderdale Beach area for the Florida Panthers championship parade — Durda says there is a small chance for a coastal shower. But the rain should clear out quickly.
“We will start off with a coastal shower for the Panthers parade, but then we’ll dry out and we’re really gonna warm up,” she said.
Afternoon highs will reach the 90s with heat index values approaching the upper 90s to low triple digits. Still, Durda said it should feel more comfortable than in recent days.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan emphasized heat safety as thousands are expected to gather on the beach.
“Keep in mind when you’re wearing your Panthers gear in the heat,” he said at a press conference Thursday. “Expect high heat and humidity. Enjoy our ocean and take plenty of water with you.”
He also advised attendees to “wear sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher and seek shade whenever you can.”
She also says beachgoers and boaters can expect a low risk of rip currents and light chop in the bays.
“Your first weekend of summer (is) looking good,” she said.
Summer officially begins at 10:42 p.m. Friday.
For the hour-by-hour forecast and a live radar, visit this page or click the link below to sign up for Local 10’s Daily Forecast newsletter.
