Gainesville, Florida – Residents across north Florida and parts of southeast Georgia have until 1 a.m. Wednesday to prepare for temperatures plunging to 30 degrees, cold enough to freeze exposed pipes and severely damage tender vegetation before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, a Freeze Warning is in effect from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. Wednesday for inland northeast Florida counties including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Gilchrist, Marion, Nassau, Putnam and Union, along with Pierce, Brantley, Ware and Charlton counties in southeast Georgia. Clear skies and calm winds will allow rapid overnight cooling, especially in rural and low-lying areas.
Gainesville, Lake City, Ocala and Macclenny could see widespread readings between 30 and 32 degrees. In Waycross, Folkston and Nahunta, temperatures may briefly dip below freezing between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Bridges and elevated roadways are not expected to ice, but frost and a hard freeze could impact agriculture and outdoor plumbing.
Protect plants with breathable coverings, drip faucets to prevent pipe bursts and ensure pets have warm shelter. Check on elderly neighbors and those without adequate heating.
Temperatures rebound quickly after 8 a.m., but additional cold alerts remain possible if clear skies persist into late week.
