Tampa Bay, Florida – Much colder air will surge into the region tonight behind a strong cold front, bringing freezing temperatures north of Tampa Bay and low wind chills across much of west-central Florida, according to the National Weather Service.
A Freeze Warning is in effect from midnight through 9 a.m. Tuesday for Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and Sumter counties, where overnight low temperatures are expected to fall into the mid to upper 20s. Areas farther south, including the Tampa metro, are forecast to see lows in the low to mid-30s.
In addition, a Cold Weather Advisory is in place for much of the rest of west-central and southwest Florida, as wind chill values are expected to drop into the upper teens to lower 30s by early Tuesday morning.
Forecasters say the coldest conditions will occur between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. Tuesday, when calm winds and clear skies allow temperatures to bottom out. Sensitive vegetation, exposed pipes, pets, and people without adequate heat are at risk during this period.
Daytime temperatures Tuesday will recover only slowly, with highs remaining well below seasonal averages. Cold conditions are expected to linger through the remainder of the week, though additional freezes will depend on cloud cover and wind conditions.
Residents are urged to protect plants, pets, and pipes, dress in layers if heading out early Tuesday, and check on vulnerable neighbors as the coldest air of the season impacts the region.
