What's New
Isolated regions of Florida could experience temperatures below freezing later this week, according to a recently released map from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Newsweek has contacted the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The threat of plunging temperatures comes after much of the state, as well as several others, were under a dense fog advisory from the National Weather Service (NWS) this week. These included Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
The NWS warns that whilst everyone is at risk from the dangers of cold weather, certain groups, such as newborns, the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, outdoors workers, and people without homes are particularly vulnerable to its effects.
What To Know
The "feels like" temperature, also known as the apparent temperature, represents how the human body perceives the outdoor temperature when accounting for factors beyond the actual air temperature. This measure incorporates elements such as wind speed, air temperature and humidity.
The FDEM said that on Friday night, parts of the northern Panhandle could experience temperatures near or at freezing (32°F) as cool air moves southward, with patchy frost likely to develop across the region overnight and into Saturday morning.
Parts of the Panhandle can expect low temperatures near or below freezing on Saturday night. By Saturday morning, feels-like temperatures will range from the upper 20s to low 30s across the Panhandle and Big Bend, while Northeast Florida and the Big Bend coastline will experience feels-like temperatures in the mid-30s, the department said.
It also said low temperatures in the 30s were expected throughout the Panhandle, Big Bend, and parts of the Nature Coast.
According to the map, Florida counties where temperature could be as low as freezing includes, but is not limited to:
- Escambia
- Santa Rosa
- Okaloosa
- Walton
- Holmes
- Bay
- Jackson
- Liberty
- Washington
- Calhoun
- Jefferson
- Madison
What People Are Saying
The NWS advises that in cold weather, people should wear layers of loose-fitting, warm clothing, as well as a hat. It suggests staying dry and out of the wind, covering your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
Should any pipes freeze, it warns never to attempt to thaw using a torch or open flame. Instead, it advises to use a hair dryer.
What Happens Next
On Sunday morning, temperatures in the Panhandle and Big Bend will feel like they are in the upper 20s to low 30s, while the Big Bend coastline will experience feels-like temperatures in the mid-30s, the FDEM said.
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