Florida wakes up under hazy skies and cool air, but the real shock comes later. A sharp cold snap slides south today, setting up one of the coldest nights of the season for North Florida. Lawns feel damp now, yet frost becomes the bigger concern fast.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, a Freeze Watch is in effect from Thursday evening through Friday morning. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the 20s across parts of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, including the Tallahassee area. Some locations could briefly dip into the upper teens.
In Tallahassee, today stays mild with highs near 60, but temperatures fall quickly after sunset. Skies clear, winds ease, and cold air settles in. By early Friday, exposed plants, pipes, and outdoor pets face a hard freeze. Patchy frost may develop even before temperatures bottom out.
Residents should act early. Cover sensitive plants, bring pets indoors, and protect outdoor plumbing. Drip faucets slowly and shut off irrigation systems. Commuters Friday morning may notice frost on windshields, especially in low-lying neighborhoods and rural roads.
To be fair, sunshine returns Friday afternoon, but the cold lingers. Highs rebound only into the 50s, and another chilly night follows. Winter remains in control heading into the weekend, even as daytime conditions improve.
Looking ahead, temperatures slowly moderate this weekend. Longer-range outlooks suggest more seasonal cold next week, while wetter weather increases across parts of the Southeast during the Jan 19–23 window.
Five Day Outlook for Tallahassee, Florida
Thursday: Sunny and cooler, high near 48.
Friday: Patchy frost early, then sunny, high near 57.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high near 63.
Sunday: Sunny and mild, high near 65.
Monday: Clear and cool, high near 55.
