Florida Temperatures Plummet After Record Heat

Florida residents are facing a significant cold snap following a weekend of record-breaking high temperatures. Freeze warnings, freeze watches, and cold weather advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service for much of the state, with colder conditions expected for Monday night into Tuesday morning, February 24.

Temperatures across central and east Florida have already fallen into the upper 30s in some areas, with lows potentially dropping into the upper 20s. Even South Florida will experience a noticeable chill, with interior portions of Southwest Florida expected to go below freezing. This drastic temperature change contrasts sharply with weekend highs that reached the 90s, with Hollywood reporting a U.S.-high of 92 on Sunday, February 22.

The cold is expected to reach temperatures that could cause iguanas to become 'cold-stunned,' a phenomenon where they temporarily paralyze and may fall from trees. While this occurred during a similar cold snap in early February, the current cold is not predicted to last as long.

Specific advisories are in effect for various cities, including Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, and Orlando. These advisories warn of very cold wind chills and sub-freezing temperatures. Additionally, red flag warnings and fire weather watches have been issued for several coastal areas due to critical fire weather conditions.