Cold Weather Advisories Expanded Across Florida as Wind Chills in the 20s Reach Into the Everglades Ahead of New Year’s Freeze

FLORIDA — An intensifying Arctic air mass is pushing deeper into the Sunshine State, prompting Cold Weather Advisories to expand farther south than originally expected. Forecasters now warn that wind chills in the 20s may reach all the way to the Florida Everglades, signaling one of the coldest New Year’s holiday periods Florida has faced in recent years.

Arctic Air Pushes Deep Into the Peninsula

According to updated forecasts, temperatures will begin sharply dipping tonight, with even colder air settling in for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The advisory map shows large portions of northern and central Florida under cold weather alerts, along with sections of Georgia and Alabama.

Wind chills in the low 20s and upper teens are expected in northern areas, while central and southern regions may feel temperatures dropping into the upper 20s and low 30s, unusually cold for late December. Forecasters say the cold is “winter at full strength,” impacting everything from wildlife to vegetation.

Impacts: Falling Iguanas, Slow-Moving Alligators, and Stressed Palms

The deep freeze will create several classic Florida winter effects:

• Cold-stunned iguanas may fall from trees during the coldest morning hours
• Alligators and other reptiles will become sluggish as their body temperatures drop
• Palm trees and tropical plants may experience freeze stress
• Frost and hard-freeze conditions will threaten sensitive vegetation in inland areas

Residents are urged to take precautions to protect pets, exposed pipes, and outdoor plants as temperatures slide below normal thresholds.

Coldest Mornings Expected for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

While temperatures begin falling today, the harshest conditions are expected during the overnight hours of December 30 and 31, continuing into the mornings of December 31 and January 1. Wind chills may make conditions feel colder than the actual air temperatures, especially in regions north of Tampa and Orlando. By daybreak, widespread frost is likely.

A Brief but Intense Taste of Winter

Although the cold air is unusually strong, meteorologists say it will be relatively short-lived. Warmer temperatures are expected to begin returning after New Year’s Day, ending what forecasters describe as a “rare Arctic push” for Florida.

For now, though, residents across the state are advised to dress warmly, prepare their homes, and remain cautious about early morning outdoor activity. As winter continues its rare invasion of the Florida peninsula, readers can share local weather photos and updates at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.