Coming almost a week ahead of the one-year anniversary of a historic snowstorm, Florida is preparing for winter weather of another sort this week: freezing temperatures.
Fifty-three of the state’s 67 counties were under a freeze watch Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, ahead of colder temperatures expected to arrive Thursday or Friday as the cold front moves through the state.
Freeze watches extend as far south as Port St. Lucie on the east coast to inland areas north of Fort Myers and east of Punta Gorda.
Widespread freeze warnings can be expected soon.
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The freezing temps are even more of a jolt for residents, following above-average temperatures areas, including record highs in a few cities.
See which Florida cities can expect freezing temperatures this week.
Cold front bringing temps 15-20 degrees below average to Florida
“The drop in temperature will be most extreme on Thursday night,” in Florida, according to AccuWeather.
Low temperatures are forecast to drop into the 20s for cities like Jacksonville and Tallahassee, and cities like Orlando and Lakeland could drop as low as the 30s.
➤ Second cold front hits Florida with temps that could ‘freeze’ iguanas
“Interior areas of Central Florida are likely to have a freeze Thursday night,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
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 weather watches, warnings are in effect in Florida right now?
How cold will it get in Florida this week?
Subfreezing temperatures can be expected throughout North Florida and interior Central Florida Thursday night, the Florida Department of Emergency Management said.
Widespread freeze warnings can be expected throughout North Florida due to Hard Freeze Conditions creating low temperatures in the 20s.
Additional freeze warnings will likely be needed through the I-4 corridor for low temperatures in the lower to middle 30s.
South Florida can expect to see low temperatures in the middle 30s to upper 40s. Feels-like temperatures will be in the 20s and lower 30s through Lake Okeechobee. South Florida can expect feels-like temperatures in the 30s to middle 40s.
Cold weather advisories will extend well south throughout the Peninsula Thursday night and into Friday morning.
Watch out for falling iguanas in Florida
When temperatures drop into the 40s, iguanas living in Florida, especially South Florida and coastal areas, could find themselves temporarily paralyzed, causing them to fall from trees or other high perches.
The effect is only temporary, so do not pick them up.
Once they warm back up, they may feel threatened and bite.
Will Pensacola, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
It’ll be close to freezing in Pensacola. Jan. 14 lows Wednesday night are predicted to be 34, with 35 forecast for Thursday night.
Expect wind chill values between 25 and 35 early Thursday.
Will Tallahassee, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Expect freezing temperatures in Tallahassee. Lows Jan. 14 will drop to 38, before falling to 26 Jan. 15.
A freeze watch is in effect from Thursday evening through Friday morning, with hard freeze temperatures of 20-25 expected and even some pockets of upper teens possible, the National Weather Service Tallahassee said.
Will Jacksonville, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Expect freezing temperatures in Jacksonville Thursday night, Jan. 15, with low of 29. Temps will inch up to 37 Friday night.
A freeze watch is in effect from 11 p.m. Jan. 15 to 9 a.m. Jan. 16. “Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 21 possible,” according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville.
Patchy frost is forecast before 5 a.m. Friday.
Will Daytona Beach, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Low temperatures could drop to freezing in Daytona Beach Thursday night, dropping to 32, before climbing slightly to 38 Friday night.
A freeze watch is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning for coastal and inland Volusia County, along with Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 possible, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne.
Will Melbourne, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
It’ll be close but Melbourne temperatures are expected to drop to a low of 37 Thursday night, climbing to 46 Friday night.
A freeze watch is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning for inland Brevard County, as well as parts of Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
Will Port St. Lucie, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
It’ll be close, but low temperatures are forecast to drop to 34 Thursday night, before climbing to 45 Friday in Port St. Lucie.
A freeze watch is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning for inland St. Lucie and Indian River counties, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne.
Will West Palm Beach, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Much colder temperatures are forecast for Thursday night into Friday morning but are expected to remain above freezing in West Palm Beach, with a low of 47 expected Thursday night and a low of 61 Friday.
The coldest temperatures across South Florida are expected Friday morning before sunrise, with coastal areas dropping into the upper 30s to mid 40s, and interior/northern areas in the low-mid 30s. Glades and Hendry may even drop to 30-31 degrees, according to the National Weather Service Miami.
Wind chills could make the feels-like temperatures in the mid 20s around the Lake region, and low-mid 30s elsewhere. A cold weather advisory might be issued Friday morning.
Will Miami, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Expect lows of 48 in Miami Thursday night, with temperatures climbing quickly and a low of 61 Friday night, well above freezing.
Will Naples, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Temperatures for Naples are expected to drop to 40 Thursday night, and climb to 50 Friday night, staying above freezing.
Wind chills will make it feel colder.
Will Fort Myers, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
It’ll be close but the current forecast calls for a low of 36 Thursday night in Fort Myers, before climbing to a low of 45 Friday night. Wind chills will make temperatures feel colder.
Freezing temperatures will be seen as far south as Charlotte County with a freeze watch is in place for much of the area.
Will Sarasota, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
The current forecast calls for a low of 39 in Sarasota Thursday night, and a low of 45 Friday night.
Freezing temperatures will be seen as far south as Charlotte County with a freeze watch is in place for Manatee County.
Will Tampa, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Lows are expected to drop to 35 in Tampa Thursday night, before climbing slightly to a low of 42 Friday night.
Freezing temperatures will be seen as far south as Charlotte County with a freeze watch in place for Hillsborough County.
Will Orlando, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Bundle up if you’re heading to one of Orlando’s theme parks. Low Thursday night is expected to fall to 33 and conditions improving only slightly Friday night, with a low of 39.
A freeze watch is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning.
Will Gainesville, Florida, get freezing temperatures this week?
Temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing in Gainesville, with a low of 26 Thursday night and a low of 33 Friday night.
A freeze watch is in effect from late Thursday night through Friday morning.
Will Florida get any snow with this cold front?
Don’t count on the cold front later this week bringing any snow with it, and especially northing to rival the snow parts of Florida got in January 2025.
“Chances for snow are very, very low; 5% if that, in North Florida,” according to meteorologist Cameron Young with the National Weather Service Tallahassee, via phone Jan. 12.
“There’s always a battle with cold fronts this time of year on having enough moisture when the cold air arrives.”
“It’s not impossible but right now models are saying all the moisture will leave by the time the cold air arrives,” Jason Hess, meteorologist, with the National Weather Service Jacksonville, said.
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.
Historic snowstorm hit Florida almost 1 year ago
A historic snowstorm hit Florida Jan. 21-22, 2025, breaking snowfall records along the northern Gulf Coast.
The storm closed Interstate 10 from the Alabama/Florida state line to U.S. 90 (exit 192) just west of Tallahassee, a distance of almost 200 miles, and prompted a state of emergency to be issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Pensacola shattered its previous two-day snowfall record with an incredible 8.9 inches of measured snow,” the National Weather Service said.
“This far surpassed the prior two-day record of 3.0 inches of snow, set during the February Snowstorm of 1895.”
Pensacola residents saw the temperature drop to 13 degrees on Jan. 22, breaking its daily low temperature record.”
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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at tallahassee.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Cold front to slap Florida. See which cities will see freezing temps
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
