Jacksonville, FL – A sharp early-season cold snap is expected to send temperatures plunging across northeast Florida and southeast Georgia late Thursday night, prompting a widespread Freeze Watch and raising concerns for exposed plants, pets, and vulnerable residents. Lows could dip into the upper 20s by daybreak Friday, marking one of the coldest nights of the season so far.
According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, the Freeze Watch covers Suwannee, Baker, Union, Bradford, Gilchrist, Alachua, Columbia, Nassau, Hamilton, Clay, Duval, and Putnam Counties, along with large portions of southeast Georgia including Coffee, Jeff Davis, Bacon, Appling, Wayne, Pierce, Atkinson, Clinch, Brantley, Camden, and Ware. According to forecasters, sub-freezing temperatures are possible from late Thursday night through early Friday morning as dry air and clear skies allow rapid cooling. According to emergency managers, sensitive crops and tropical plants could sustain damage if not covered.
Shelters may open in parts of the region for those exposed to the cold. Officials advise residents to protect outdoor pets, check on elderly neighbors, and bring plants inside or wrap them before temperatures fall Thursday evening. Light winds may make the chill feel even colder around sunrise.
Drivers may encounter patches of frost on bridges before dawn Friday, particularly on rural routes west of Jacksonville near Lake City and Live Oak. Those heading out early should allow extra time for defrosting.
Conditions will warm during the day Friday, but another cool night is likely into the weekend.
