TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY has been declared through this morning. Wind chills are in the teens and single digits across the Big Bend and South Georgia this morning. The dangerous chill in the air is why the First Alert Weather Day is in place.
Dangerous cold to start the day
Prepare for wind chills in the single digits and teens if you are heading out the door around sunrise. Be sure to give yourself some time to warm up the car before heading to church or running errands. And bundle up in multiple layers. This is the type of cold that will lead to frostbite in under 30 minutes to exposed skin.
After an extremely cold morning, temperatures will slowly warm to the low to mid-40s this afternoon. However, northwesterly breezes around 10-15 mph will keep wind chills in the 30s, making it feel much colder than the actual temperature. Expect another chilly day with gusty winds.
Coastal and Marine Impacts Today: The waters are rough this morning with winds between 25 and 30 knots, occasional gusts to 40 knots. Waves between four and eight feet.
Winds start to ease in the afternoon to around 15 knots. Waves will be down between 3 and 4 feet. Not a good day for boaters, small crafts or swimmers.
Cold weather impacts
With dangerously cold temperatures expected, take action now to protect vulnerable people, pets, pipes and plants. Bring pets indoors, drip outdoor faucets to prevent frozen pipes, and check on elderly neighbors and friends who may need assistance.
Winds could knock out power occasionally, too. Have extra blankets on standby in case you lose power for multiple hours.
Tonight into Monday
Winds will ease considerably, but temperatures will plummet to the low 20s and upper teens. Wind chills will dip below 25 degrees tonight and tomorrow morning, so expect another frigid start to your day tomorrow as you get the kids ready for school and you head off to work.
Looking Ahead: Midweek System Approaching
High pressure will settle over the region through early in the week, allowing for a gradual warmup. Overnight lows will increase from the low 30s to the mid to upper 40s by midweek, and afternoon highs will warm from the 50s to 60s.
The next cold front will approach the southeast on Wednesday, bringing the next chance for showers. Temperatures behind this front won’t be as brutal as what we’re experiencing now, with overnight lows in the upper 20s to low 30s and afternoon highs in the low 50s heading toward the weekend.
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