Tampa, FL – Tampa experienced its coldest November 11th on record Tuesday morning after temperatures dropped to 39 degrees Fahrenheit around 6 a.m., surpassing the previous record low of 40 degrees set in 1892.
The National Weather Service reported that the rare chill marked the coldest air mass of the season so far, caused by a surge of Arctic air moving through the Southeast.
Across the Tampa Bay area, temperatures dipped into the 30s and low 40s, with wind gusts making conditions feel closer to the 20s and low 30s.
Tampa’s “feels-like” temperature was approximately 31 degrees during the early morning hours.
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Several nearby cities also saw record-breaking lows. St. Petersburg recorded 43 degrees, breaking its 1956 record of 44.
Brooksville reached 35 degrees, two degrees below its 1977 record.
Lakeland hit 36 degrees, beating its 1996 record of 44, while Winter Haven also dropped to 36 degrees, surpassing the 38-degree mark from 1962.
The cold snap prompted freeze warnings in parts of the region, urging residents to protect pets, plants, and exposed plumbing.
Officials also reminded residents to use space heaters safely and prepare for additional chilly mornings before temperatures rebound later in the week.
This marks the second major weather milestone for Tampa this year.
In July, the city reached 100 degrees for the first time in history, breaking its all-time high of 99 degrees previously recorded in 1942, 1985, and 2020.