Orlando, Florida – A surge of unusually dangerous cold air is set to sweep across east central Florida tonight, creating life-threatening wind chills and a hard freeze that could damage plumbing, crops, and sensitive vegetation by early Monday morning. Temperatures will tumble quickly after sunset, with the coldest conditions arriving before daybreak.
According to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, an Extreme Cold Warning and a Freeze Warning remain in effect from 7 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday for all of east central Florida. Wind chills are expected to drop as low as 14 to 20 degrees, while actual air temperatures fall into the 22 to 27 degree range across inland and coastal communities.
Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Winter Park, Apopka, and Clermont are expected to see several hours of hard freezing temperatures. Along the coast, Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, and Stuart will feel biting winds that push wind chills into the teens. Inland areas of Volusia, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Osceola, Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Martin counties face the greatest risk for frozen pipes and crop damage.
Residents are urged to dress in layers, bring pets and potted plants indoors, and protect outdoor plumbing by wrapping pipes or allowing faucets to drip slowly. Check on elderly neighbors and ensure heating systems are working properly. Warnings remain in effect through Monday morning, and additional cold weather alerts could follow if temperatures are slow to rebound.
