Florida experienced its most intense cold spell in eight months this weekend, with temperatures dropping below freezing in some northern areas of the state.
The morning of this Sunday recorded apenas -1.7 °C (29 °F) in Bishop Lake, while cities like Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Orlando also experienced a significant drop in temperatures.
Meteorologist Matt Devitt reported this Sunday, via his Facebook account, that Florida has just recorded its coldest weekend in eight months.
The specialist noted that Bishop Lake, in the Panhandle, was the coldest spot in the state, at -1.7 °C (29 °F), and forecasted that temperatures will begin to gradually recover over the next few days.
Devitt also shared an image showing the minimum temperatures observed in different locations in Florida, illustrating the extent to which the cold air reached various regions, although with greater intensity in the north.
Bishop Lake recorded -1.7 °C (29 °F), followed by Crestview and Live Oak, both at -1.1 °C (30 °F). Chipley and Tallahassee dropped to -0.6 °C (31 °F), while Milton and Perry reached 0 °C (32 °F), the freezing point of water.
In Gainesville, temperatures reached 2.2 °C (36 °F), while Jacksonville and Brooksville hit 2.8 °C (37 °F), and Ocala recorded 3.3 °C (38 °F). Further west, Pensacola registered 5.6 °C (42 °F) and Destin reached 6.1 °C (43 °F).
The drop was also felt in Central Florida. Orlando and North Port recorded lows of 8.9 °C (48 °F), while Tampa, Sarasota, Lakeland, and Melbourne dropped to 10 °C (50 °F).
In the southern part of the state, temperatures were considerably milder, although they were still cool for the region. West Palm Beach recorded 13.3 °C (56 °F), Fort Lauderdale 15 °C (59 °F), and Miami reached a low of 16.1 °C (61 °F), while Key West remained at 19.4 °C (67 °F).
The National Meteorological Service confirms the arrival of cold weather
The National Weather Service (NWS) had warned that a mass of cold, dry air would bring the lowest temperatures since March to large areas of central and northern Florida.
In its weather analysis for Melbourne, published on Saturday, it explained that several cold fronts associated with a low-pressure system over the northeastern United States had facilitated the gradual influx of cooler air into the peninsula.
The agency noted that the early mornings of Saturday and Sunday would be the coldest since the previous winter in Central Florida, especially in inland areas, where the wind chill was also expected to drop significantly.
For its part, the NWS office in Tallahassee confirmed this Sunday the presence of frost in inland areas of the Panhandle (northwest Florida) and the Big Bend (the region of the Great Curve, where the Gulf Coast bends south), where the low temperatures were accompanied by light winds and mostly clear skies.
The conditions favored heat loss during the early morning, allowing temperatures to drop, particularly in areas far from the moderating influence of the sea.
Frost alerts and recommendations for residents
The Florida Division of Emergency Management had warned since Friday about the arrival of very low temperatures over the weekend.
In a post on X, the agency reported that warnings had been issued for possible frost in areas of Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties in the northwest part of the state.
Authorities recommended moving potted plants indoors and covering sensitive species left outside before temperatures dropped.
The NWS also issued frost advisories early Sunday morning in inland areas of northern Florida, with possible impacts on exposed vegetation.
The drop was particularly pronounced in inland areas, where temperatures were around or below 0 °C (32 °F). However, freezing conditions did not extend across the entire state.
The general recommendations from the Florida Division of Emergency Management also include protecting pets, properly sheltering vulnerable individuals, and using heating equipment with caution.
When will the heat return to Florida?
The meteorologist Matt Devitt predicted that the cold episode will soon be behind us and that many areas will begin to record temperatures in the range of 26.7 °C to 31.7 °C (80 °F to 89 °F).
The forecasts from the NWS for South Florida indicate that Miami could reach 27.2 °C (81 °F) on Monday, November 16, while Naples could also hit 27.2 °C (81 °F), and other areas would gradually return to their usual temperatures.
In the north, the recovery will be slower. The Tallahassee weather office anticipates highs between 15.6 °C and 20.6 °C (60 °F to 69 °F) on Sunday, a day that will still be cool on Monday, with a gradual increase reaching between 21.1 °C and 26.1 °C (70 °F to 79 °F) by the middle and end of the week.
In Jacksonville, temperatures will also gradually rise over the coming days, although the NWS warns that starting Monday, northeast winds may intensify, increasing the risk of rip currents and dangerous waves along the Atlantic coastal beaches.
The drop in temperatures had been anticipated since last Tuesday when meteorologists warned that South Florida was getting ready to experience the coldest air since March.
The forecasts indicated that a mass of polar air would move towards the peninsula, driven by changes in atmospheric circulation over the eastern United States.
That same day, Matt Devitt warned about the possibility of iguanas falling from trees during the mornings of Saturday and Sunday.
The meteorologist explained that these reptiles can temporarily lose mobility when temperatures drop to around 7.2 °C (45 °F) or lower. Although they appear dead, many regain their activity when the temperature rises.
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