How unusual is the cold coming to Orlando on Sunday?

You’d have to look back 90 years in the record books to find when it got as frigid as the current predictions for the first day of February, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

Temperatures are expected to plunge to 24 degrees by early Sunday morning, breaking the record set in 1936 of 28 degrees.

With wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph, it will feel as cold as 10 degrees overnight, according to Tim Sedlock, a meteorologist with the weather service.

“It’s going to be a raw, nasty night,” he said. “Just plain nasty.”

Making it worse for longtime Central Floridians not accustomed to the arctic-like air: Sunday’s high temperatures are expected to reach only the mid 40s. And it will feel even colder throughout the day, as wind is forecast despite lots of sunshine.

Then Sunday night and into early Monday, temperatures will drop again to 29 degrees, likely breaking the record of 32 degrees for Feb. 2 set in 1980.

But anyone with visions of throwing snowballs or making snow angels will be disappointed, despite forecasts of potential flurries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

“We’re not expecting any snow in Central Florida,” Sedlock said.

Still, experts advise Central Florida residents to start preparing.

The University of Florida’s IFAS Extension office in Gainesville recommends bringing in potted plants to warmer, sheltered areas.

Outdoor plants can be protected by draping them with a cover that completely touches the soil, so that heat from the ground is trapped. For cold-sensitive plants too large to cover, IFAS experts recommend wrapping the trunks with several layers of cloth or newspapers.

When it comes to water pipes, Michael Hall, general manager of Michael’s Plumbing of Central Florida, says the most vulnerable are tankless water heaters powered by gas because the pipes are often outdoors by the side of a home.

He recommends making sure the heater’s power is always on to prevent the water from freezing and cracking the pipes and other plastic components.

Generally, potable water pipes are mostly indoors, and there’s a very slim chance those will burst or crack. But it can happen.

Hall recommends allowing one or two faucets to drip “if you’re really concerned.” Or homeowners can completely shut off the water and let the pipes drain before going to bed.

“If you don’t know where the shutoff is, now is a good time to learn,” he said. “Preventive maintenance is always a smart move.”

Joe Chuparkoff of Pools by Bradley in Lake Mary said most pool pumps today have a freeze protection system. If the water temperature falls below 40 degrees, the pool pumps will automatically turn on.

Homeowners with older pools can set their pump’s timer to start during the overnight hours “for peace of mind,” he said.

“It will keep everything circulating,” he said.

Sedlock said the cold may be a shock and residents should prepare for what could be potentially dangerous weather with the wind chill. He said to stay indoors with your pets.

“If you have to go outside, bundle up  in layers. Wear hats and gloves. And try to limit your time,” he said.

After that stretch of arctic temperatures, on Monday Central Florida can celebrate Groundhog Day, no matter what any rodent predicts. That’s when a gradual warming trend will begin, with a high of 55 degrees forecast.