Florida Issues Freeze Watches, Warnings as Cold Front Arrives

Florida residents are bracing for a sharp cold snap as a strong cold front moves through the state just in time for the New Year. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued freeze watches, warnings, and cold weather advisories across multiple regions.

Key Alerts Across the State

Pensacola & Western Panhandle: Cold weather advisory from midnight to 9 a.m. CT Dec. 30. Wind chills could drop to 16°F, creating hypothermia risk with prolonged exposure.
Tallahassee & Central Panhandle: Freeze warning for inland areas near I-10 until 8 a.m. Dec. 30. Expect wind chills in the low-mid 20s.
Jacksonville & North Florida: Highs in the upper 40s to 50s Dec. 30. Freezing temps and low wind chills Tuesday night, with potential for widespread frost Wednesday night.
Daytona Beach to Stuart (East-Central Florida): Cold front moves overnight into Tuesday morning. Below-normal temps expected, potential freeze watch Tuesday night.
West Palm Beach to Naples (South Florida): Colder, drier conditions to start the new year. Cold snap expected to last through the workweek.
Sarasota to Fort Myers (Southwest Florida): Lows in the mid-upper 30s inland, wind chills in the upper 20s to low 30s. Coldest air expected Tuesday night.

Temperature Forecasts for New Year’s Eve & Day

City	Dec. 31 High	Dec. 31 Low	Jan. 1 High	Jan. 1 Low
Pensacola	55	43	62	53
Tallahassee	56	36	62	44
Jacksonville	56	38	63	42
Daytona Beach	58	40	64	45
Melbourne	63	43	68	47
Port St. Lucie	64	38	68	42
West Palm Beach	65	50	67	55
Miami	69	50	69	55
Naples	65	47	68	53
Fort Myers	64	42	69	48
Sarasota	60	50	65	54
Orlando	59	40	65	44

Understanding NWS Cold Weather Terms

Frost Advisory: Temp 32–36°F with calm winds, high humidity.
Freeze Watch: Potential for widespread freezing within 24–36 hours.
Freeze Warning: Widespread freezing expected (temps ≤32°F for ≥2 hours).
Cold Weather Advisory: Temps or wind chills 15–24°F.
Extreme Cold Watch/Warning: Temps or wind chills below 15°F.

Additional Notes

Some counties remain under burn bans due to drought (Highlands, Polk, Sarasota, etc.).
Drought conditions across Florida range from abnormally dry to extreme, especially in Leon and Gadsden counties.
Residents celebrating outdoors on New Year’s Eve should dress warmly and take precautions.

Bottom line: Florida is facing one of its coldest periods in years. Freeze watches, warnings, and cold weather advisories are in effect—take care, especially in northern and inland areas where wind chills could dip into the 20s.

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