Florida — Cold air pours south across the Big Bend this morning, pushing palm fronds stiff and still. The breeze feels sharper by the hour. What looks calm now will turn dangerous fast after sunset.
An Extreme Cold Warning and Freeze Warning are in effect for Tallahassee and surrounding counties beginning this evening and lasting into Tuesday morning. Wind chills are expected to plunge between 9 and 15 degrees, while actual temperatures fall into the upper teens to mid-20s. This is a hard freeze by North Florida standards.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, prolonged exposure could lead to hypothermia. Frost and freeze conditions may kill crops, damage sensitive vegetation, and burst unprotected outdoor pipes. The cold will feel most severe late tonight through early Tuesday, even with light winds.
Drivers heading out early Tuesday should watch for icy patches on bridges and elevated roadways, especially outside the city core. While no snow is expected, cold pavement and lingering moisture may create slick spots in rural areas.
Daytime temperatures recover slowly Tuesday, reaching the upper 40s. The chill lingers into Wednesday morning with lows near the mid-20s again. Conditions finally ease late week as highs climb into the low to mid-50s by Thursday and Friday.
Residents should act now. Bring pets indoors. Wrap outdoor pipes. Check on elderly neighbors. Dress in layers if outside, including hats and gloves. Portable heaters should be used safely and never indoors with generators.
Looking ahead, longer-range outlooks show drier weather continuing with gradual warming across the Southeast into early February.
This cold is unusual and serious for the region. How low did temperatures fall where you are? Share what you’re seeing across Tallahassee and the Big Bend.
Five-Day Outlook – Tallahassee, FL
• Today: Turning sharply colder, high near 47°F
• Tuesday: Sunny, very cold morning, high near 48°F
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, cold start, high near 52°F
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, moderating, high near 55°F
• Friday: Mostly sunny, milder, high near 54°F
