Cold/Wind Chill — Metro Broward County, Florida

2009-02-05 · Metro Broward County, Florida

Event narrative

A 49-year-old homeless man died of hypothermia as a result of exposure to temperatures in the 30s and wind chill reading as low as the mid to upper 20s. The man had settled for the night in a tent near a wooded area off Powerline Road in Pompano Beach.

Witnesses told investigators the man had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol the previous evening. The medical examiner indicated hypothermia as a very important element, along with the amount of alcohol in the man's body.

Wider weather episode

A arctic cold front swept through South Florida early on February 3. Cold air of arctic origin poured across the region in the wake of the front, causing freezing temperatures and crop damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 156933. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.