Tampa Bay, Florida – A prolonged stretch of cold weather continues across central Florida, with freezing temperatures early Saturday followed by an even colder round expected late Sunday night into Monday morning.
According to the National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay–Ruskin, a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday for inland Citrus, Hernando, Levy, and Sumter counties, where temperatures have already dropped as low as 28 degrees. A Freeze Watch is also in place for late Sunday night through Monday morning, with lows potentially falling to 23 degrees in inland Levy and inland Citrus counties, raising the risk of a hard freeze.
Additional Freeze Watches cover Polk and inland Hillsborough counties, including Lakeland, Winter Haven, Plant City, Brandon, and Sun City Center, where lows near 30 degrees are possible. Coastal areas of Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties remain under a Frost Advisory early Saturday, but freezing temperatures could still develop inland by Monday morning.
Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, damage sensitive vegetation, and harm unprotected outdoor plumbing. Agricultural interests across central Florida should take precautions now, as the colder second wave may be more impactful than Saturday morning’s freeze.
Residents are urged to cover plants, insulate exposed pipes, and bring pets indoors. The National Weather Service notes that Freeze Watches may be upgraded to Warnings as confidence increases, with cold conditions easing later Monday morning.
