Jacksonville, FL – A rare and dangerous cold snap is gripping northeast Florida and southeast Georgia early Monday, prompting Freeze Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories across the region, including the Jacksonville area.
According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 24 degrees were reported overnight, with wind chills dropping to near 14 degrees in some inland areas. A Freeze Warning and Cold Weather Advisory remain in effect until 10 a.m. EST Monday for much of the region.
The cold weather impacts a wide area, including Suwannee Valley communities, Live Oak, Lake City, Macclenny, Waycross, Brunswick-area coastal communities, and inland portions of Nassau, Duval, Clay, Alachua, and Bradford counties. Coastal Nassau County is also under a Wind Advisory until 9 a.m., with northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph.
Forecasters warn the cold is not over. A second Freeze Warning is scheduled to take effect Monday evening at 7 p.m. and last through 9 a.m. Tuesday, with overnight lows expected to fall to around 26 degrees across parts of northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. Additional counties, including western Duval, Clay, and Alachua, are under a Freeze Watch for Monday night into Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service warns that prolonged exposure to these conditions could lead to frostbite or hypothermia, especially for young children, the elderly, and those without adequate shelter. Residents are urged to dress in layers, limit time outdoors, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
Officials also stress the importance of protecting pets, livestock, pipes, and tender vegetation from freezing temperatures. Motorists should use caution, particularly in windy coastal areas where unsecured objects may be blown around.
