Temperatures are expected to plunge to the low 20s across much of Florida beginning on Thursday night, prompting several National Weather Service (NWS) offices in the Sunshine State to issue freeze watches ahead of the abrupt weather change.
Meteorologists have been issuing messages about the incoming frigid temperatures since the week started. The incoming burst of cold air will be the coldest of the season for some parts of the state, which is known for its mild winters. It comes behind a cold front set to bring showers to west-central Florida on Wednesday.
The freeze watches encompass most of the state, including the panhandle, northern Florida, central Florida between the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and south-central Florida, stretching as far south as Sebring. Parts of northern Florida will see temperatures as low as 20, although the NWS office in Tallahassee warned that some areas could dip into the teens. Further south, central Florida is expecting low 20s.
Average low temperatures for this time of year are around the low 50s in Tampa, NWS meteorologist Nicole Carlisle told Newsweek. The coldest temperatures will be Friday morning, Carlisle said, with a brief warm-up during the weekend. On Monday, cold temperatures will return, albeit not as severe as Friday’s.
“Below normal temperatures are expected for several days behind a strong cold front today,” NWS Tallahassee said in a Wednesday message on its website. “Friday morning will be the coldest this work week with a high chance [80-100%] of an inland hard freeze [25F or lower]. There is a medium chance [30-60%] of temperatures tumbling below 20 degrees across portions of southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia Friday morning.”
Florida cities like Orlando, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Sebring, Ocala, Gainesville and others are included in the watch area. NWS offices will likely upgrade the freeze watch to a freeze warning as it gets closer to the event.
“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” NWS Tampa Bay said in the freeze watch. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
Precautionary measures should also be taken for plumbing.
“To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly,” NWS Tallahassee said. “Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.”
Pets should not be left outdoors.
NWS Miami did not issue a freeze watch, as temperatures will remain above freezing, but the South Florida office posted on X about a dip in temperatures. West Palm Beach could see temperatures as low as 39 degrees, with Miami expecting temperatures in the low 40s.
“Temperatures will fall rapidly behind a cold front on Thursday night,” NWS Miami said in the post. “We will continue to monitor the risk of freezing temperatures near Lake Okeechobee and dangerously low apparent temperatures across the most inland areas.”
The lowest temperatures will occur between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Friday.
Looking further out, temperatures in Florida are expected to remain below average between January 19 and 23, according to the NWS Climate Prediction Center six- to 10-day temperature outlook. However, NWS Climate Prediction Center anticipates temperatures will trend back above average for the eight- to 14-day temperature outlook.