Baby, it’s cold outside.
OK, maybe not quite yet, depending on where you live in Florida, but when the National Weather Service starts using words like hypothermia, cold weather advisories and freeze watches and warnings, it’s time to pay attention.
And it’s all coming just in time to issue in the new year.
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If fireworks are part of your New Year’s Eve traditions, double check to make sure they’re allowed in your county. Highlands County’s burn ban prohibits igniting fireworks through Jan. 1.
Some counties are experiencing extreme drought conditions and the rest of Florida is seeing conditions range from abnormally dry to extreme drought.
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Temperature forecasts for New Year’s Eve and Jan. 1, 2026, from National Weather Service:
Frost? Freeze? Cold weather advisory? What do they mean? Brush up on cold-weather terms
National Weather Service offices in Florida have slightly different criteria for the different types of cold weather watches, warnings and advisories. Here is an explanation of the types and when they’re issued in North Florida, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
What is a frost advisory?
A frost advisory is issued in North Florida up to 24 hours when temperature is forecast to be between 32 and 36 degrees on nights with calm winds when surface relative humidity is expected to approach or reach 100%, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
What is a freeze watch?
A freeze watch is issued when there is a potential for significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24-36 hours.
What is a freeze warning?
A freeze warning is issued when significant, widespread freezing temperatures are expected.
A freeze watch or warning is issued in Florida 24 to 48 hours in advance when temperatures are expected to hit 32 degrees or lower for at least two hours, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
What is a cold weather advisory?
A cold weather advisory is issued in Florida up to 24 hours ahead of when temperatures or wind chills of 15 to 24 degrees are expected, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
What is an extreme cold watch or warning?
An extreme cold watch or warning is issued for temperatures or wind chills below 15 degrees, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
What weather watches, warnings are in effect in Florida right now?
Drought conditions in Florida range from extreme to abnormally dry
Drought conditions across all of Florida range from abnormally dry to extreme drought in North Florida around Tallahassee.
According to the Florida drought monitor, here’s the percentage of the state under various drought conditions as of Dec. 23:
Among the hardest-hit counties is Leon County, where Tallahassee is located, and Gadsden County. The drought monitor reported 97.68% of Leon County and 98.83% of Gadsden County are experiencing extreme drought.
Gadsden County is located northeast of Tallahassee.
Counties under burn bans as of Dec. 29:
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What’s next?
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This story has been updated to include new information.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Freeze watches, warnings issued in Florida as cold front arrives
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
