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Florida Braces for Arctic Blast: Coldest Temps Arrive!
13 Jan
Summary
- Panhandle faces coldest day Thursday with lows in mid-20s.
- Coastal areas could see temperatures dip to the low 30s.
- Cold snap may immobilize iguanas, making them vulnerable.
Florida is set to experience a deep winter chill as a plunging jet stream brings frigid air southward. The Panhandle is bracing for Thursday, January 15th, as its coldest day, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and overnight lows plummeting to the mid-20s to low 30s. Coastal areas along the Gulf are also forecast to see temperatures fall to the low 30s early Friday, January 16th.
Central Florida and the Everglades will not be spared, with Orlando anticipating lows near freezing and the Everglades experiencing upper-30s inland. Even typically warm Key West could see a Friday morning low of 57 degrees, a significant departure from its normal highs. This unusual cold has meteorologists describing the winter as "bizarre" due to fluctuating temperatures.
The cold snap raises questions about its effect on South Florida's invasive green iguana population. When temperatures drop between 40 and 50 degrees, iguanas can become immobilized or sluggish, potentially leading to death if prolonged without basking opportunities. While this front is not expected to bring significant rain, most of Florida remains in moderate to extreme drought.
