Miami paralyzed: when it rains, people buy, but when it freezes, the city experiences an unprecedented historic cold in 15 years

Miami experienced one of the coldest days in decades this Monday. The city that typically enjoys warm temperatures woke up to just 2 degrees Celsius and a radiant sky that contrasted with the extreme cold. When it rains, Miami indulges in shopping; when it freezes, it discovers a completely different dimension of urban survival. The beaches remained almost deserted, with only a few tourists venturing onto the sand equipped with boots, long pants, and all the winter gear they could bring to what everyone knows as the “Sun State.”

The Extreme Phenomenon: Below-Freezing Temperatures and the Massive Shopping Reaction

The Arctic cold wave that hit Florida turned the streets into unusual scenes. Along the Hollywood Broadwalk, people in jackets and hats were seen, something almost unthinkable in the region. For many visitors and residents, the only reaction was to head to shopping centers. Sofia C., a young Argentine on vacation, recounts: “We took advantage of the extreme temperature forecast to visit Sawgrass and other points of interest. Since Saturday, we completely changed our plans, spent a lot of time in the car, and the first thing we did was buy coats. My friends and I practically exhausted the $22 polar fleece sweaters at Columbia.”

This pattern of behavior reveals a well-known truth in Miami: when it rains, people seek refuge in stores; when the thermometer plunges, that need multiplies. The city was neither psychologically nor logistically prepared for such extreme temperatures.

From -4 Degrees in Orlando to -6 in Tallahassee: The Unprecedented Arctic Air Invasion

Although Miami faced notable cold, the numbers became truly alarming in other parts of Florida. Tallahassee, the state capital located 750 kilometers north, recorded about -6 degrees. To put this into perspective: at the same time, Anchorage, Alaska, was barely at 1 degree. Orlando, in the heart of Florida, registered -4 degrees, a temperature not seen since 1936, nearly 90 years ago.

The scientific explanation behind this phenomenon lies in a cold Arctic air mass that moved from the polar regions toward southeastern U.S. This low-pressure system generated not only extreme temperatures but also a winter storm that covered much of the country, bringing snow, strong winds, and widespread infrastructure chaos accustomed to heat.

Disney and the Theme Parks: Frozen Tourism in Central Florida

The real impact of these temperatures was evident at the main tourist destinations. The theme parks opened Monday with temperatures of 3 degrees. Valeria Pérez Llano, another Argentine tourist, describes the experience: “We entered the park with -3 degrees. Although we wore coats, since they didn’t sell gloves, people started buying socks to put on their hands. We bought blankets as if they were jackets to wait for the parade and the nighttime show more warmly. Disney is better prepared for heat than cold. Luckily, it seems the temperature will start to rise from tomorrow.”

Orlando’s infrastructure, designed to attract tourism in warm conditions, showed its limitations. Indoor shops did not have enough inventory of warm clothing, forcing visitors to improvise creative solutions.

Airport Chaos, Frozen Iguanas, and Cascading Effects of the Climate System

Fort Lauderdale and Miami international airports experienced a surge of cancellations and delays from Sunday through Monday. María Di Carlo, a Miami resident for over 16 years, shared: “I had a weekend visiting friends in New York. I was freezing, and they found the cold funny. Their return flight was canceled due to the snowstorm up north, and they had to take another flight from Palm Beach, which was also delayed by strong winds.”

The strangest phenomenon was the appearance of “flying iguanas”: due to the lack of heat, reptiles fall from trees and remain motionless on the streets, a spectacle reflecting the total stress of the ecosystem in the face of such unusual temperatures. The National Weather Service issued cold and extreme freeze alerts across much of Florida, southern Georgia, Alabama, parts of the Carolinas, and southeastern Louisiana.

Starting Tuesday: What to Expect When Moderation Begins

The National Weather Service projects that temperatures will gradually moderate starting Tuesday, although cold mornings with lows below 10 degrees Celsius are still expected. Some afternoon and evening sporting events canceled their activities on Monday. However, a new cold front will arrive on Thursday, keeping flip-flops stored away for several more days.

This extreme episode reminded Miami and its surroundings that, although they thrive on sunshine, nature can surprise. When it rains, the city turns to commerce; when it freezes with historic intensity, it reveals a vulnerable side of its climate identity, where residents and tourists must quickly adapt to a new urban survival scenario never experienced in 15 years.