In addition to issuing a freeze warning for a state in the US, the National Weather Service has disclosed precautionary measures civilians should take to prepare for the freezing temperatures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a freeze warning for numerous cities and areas, including Melbourne, Tampa Bay Ruskin, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, in the state of Florida, effective today and tomorrow (January 25, 2025). However, a chief meteorologist noted that temperatures will rise from Saturday afternoon.
As shared via a bulletin notice on the NWS’ website, Inland Volusia and Northern Lake counties, including cities like Deltona, Deland, Mount Dora, Leesburg, Debary, Eustis, and Tavares, are under a Freeze Warning and a Cold Weather Advisory until 9 a.m. Friday morning.
Sub-freezing temperatures are expected to reach as low as 31 degrees. It should be noted that all degrees mentioned in this article are based on Fahrenheit terms, and all the times given are according to EST.
A second Freeze Warning is set to take effect early Saturday (2 a.m. to 8 a.m.), with temperatures potentially dipping to 30 degrees.
Frost and freeze conditions could damage crops and sensitive vegetation while cold wind chills pose a risk of hypothermia. Residents are urged to practice caution when traveling outside, dress warmly, cover outdoor plants, and protect exposed plumbing.
A man walking in the snow in Tallahassee, Florida on January 22, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Southern Lake County, including Clermont, Mascotte, and Groveland, faces similar conditions, with temperatures as low as 31 degrees expected during the Freeze Warning early Saturday. The NWS advises the same precautionary and protective measures as the ones for the counties of Inland Volusia and Northern Lake.
Further west, regions including Sumter-Coastal, Citrus-Coastal, Hernando-Inland, Pasco, Levy-Inland, Citrus-Inland, and Levy-Coastal counties will see extreme conditions, with Friday morning lows near 29 degrees and Saturday morning lows reaching 28.
Both the Freeze Warning and Cold Weather Advisory remain in effect on Friday until 10 a.m. The second Freeze Warning for Saturday will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Affected cities include Spring Hill, Lake Panasoffkee, The Villages, Wildwood, Williston, Crystal River, Brooksville, Bronson, Yankeetown, Bayport, Bushnell, Cedar Key, Chiefland, Inverness, Zephyrhills, Dade City, Homosassa, and Hernando Beach.
Residents in these areas are advised to prepare for sub-freezing temperatures and wind chills as low as 22 degrees.
The NWS recommends practicing caution outdoors, dressing warmly, protecting tender plants, and making frequent checks on older family members, friends, and neighbors. Additionally, portable heaters should be used correctly, and grills or generators should never be used indoors.
Civilians walking in the snow in Tallahassee, Florida on January 22, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
People should also keep their pets inside as much as possible and take measures to protect water pipes from freezing by draining, wrapping, or allowing them to drip slowly.
Coastal Pasco County residents, including those in Port Richey and Hudson, are advised to prepare for sub-freezing temperatures as low as 32 degrees and wind chills of 28 degrees.
A resident walking in front of a house covered in snow. | Source: Getty Images
In the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend regions, including Tallahassee and surrounding areas such as Malone, Lockett Crossing, Bannockburn, Five Points, Simsville, Ashburn, and Hacoda, to name a few, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 22 degrees are expected.
Wind chills could drop as low as 18 degrees Friday morning, with both the Freeze Warning and Cold Weather Advisory remaining in effect until 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively.
The Freeze Warning and Cold Weather Advisory for Saturday morning, which both remain in effect from midnight to 9 a.m., will bring similarly frigid conditions, prompting the NWS to advise residents to take extra precautions regarding the protection of plants, pets, and outdoor plumbing.
Inland Dixie, Inland Franklin, Inland Taylor, Lafayette, and Inland Gulf Counties are under a Cold Weather Advisory until 10 a.m., with another advisory in effect from midnight to 9 a.m. Saturday, along with a Freeze Warning during the same timeframe.
The NWS advises residents to follow the same precautions outlined for Sumter-Coastal, Citrus-Coastal, Hernando-Inland, Pasco, Levy-Inland, Citrus-Inland, and Levy-Coastal counties.
For northeast Florida, including Gainesville, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Suwannee Springs, Tallyrand, Yulee, Lake Butler, Dock Junction, Jasper, and Ponte Vedra Beach, to name a few, a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 10 a.m., and a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m. this morning.
Temperatures are expected to plunge to 20 degrees in some areas, with wind chills as low as 13 degrees, prompting a Freeze Watch through Saturday morning, which could bring temperatures as low as 22.
Again, the NWS emphasizes the importance of shielding outdoor animals, and checking on and ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals.
Residents across the state are also reminded to bundle up if venturing outdoors and to take immediate action to prevent frostbite and hypothermia. According to the NWS, a freeze warning is issued when widespread and significant freezing temperatures are expected.
These warnings are typically announced in the spring or autumn, marking critical moments in the growing season when freezing conditions could damage crops and other plants. For many regions, the growing season ends after the first widespread freeze, which often occurs by late October or early November, depending on location and climate patterns.
Unlike a freeze warning, a frost advisory is issued when temperatures are predicted to fall between 33 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit under clear and calm conditions, which can still pose risks to sensitive vegetation.
An aerial view of houses covered in snow in Metairie, Louisiana on January 22, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
On the colder end of the spectrum, a cold weather advisory — formerly known as a wind chill advisory — alerts the public to dangerously low temperatures or wind chills, which vary by region but can drop as low as -10 degrees.
An extreme cold warning takes this one step further, signaling when wind chills or temperatures plunge to life-threatening levels, typically reaching -20 degrees or below in certain areas.
A view of Canal Street covered in snow in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 21, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Before the National Weather Service issued its formal freeze warning for Florida, WESH Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi provided viewers with a detailed forecast for Central Florida during a weather broadcast.
With an approachable yet informative style, Mainolfi painted a clear picture of the chilling conditions residents will face on Friday and Saturday while offering a glimpse of warmer days ahead.
“We’re almost at the finish line with this cold stretch,” Mainolfi assured viewers. While freezing temperatures are expected to grip the area today and tomorrow morning, he predicted a shift to sunnier skies and rising temperatures.
“By Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, a lot of you are gonna be outdoors, maybe golfing, or just getting out, enjoying that little yellow thing we call the sun,” he quipped, referencing the long stretch of overcast skies.
Highlighting the most affected areas, Mainolfi noted a potential freeze duration of four to five hours in parts of Marion County, including Reddick and Dunnellon, while areas like Ocala and Salt Springs could see three to four hours of freezing temperatures.
“Pets, people, and pipes — we just gotta be mindful of that here going forward” he reminded viewers, urging residents to take precautions during the frosty mornings.
Additionally, Mainolfi forecasted lows dipping into the high 20s to lower 30s in these areas, while Orlando is expected to hover at 39 degrees, and Daytona Beach at 35 — just above freezing.
Mainolfi also explained how there is a low-pressure system and disturbance lingering to the southeast, causing rain and cloud cover, which could influence how far temperatures drop. However, he predicted that as the system moves out and skies clear, Saturday morning may bring the coldest temperatures of the forecasted stretch.
By Sunday, however, relief is on the horizon, with highs climbing into the upper 60s, followed by a gradual warm-up into the 70s by midweek. “Check this out now,” Mainolfi said with enthusiasm, pointing to his seven-day forecast.
“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we’re jumping up to the middle 70s,” shared the chief meteorologist. Additionally, overnight lows are expected to return to the 40s and 50s, a welcome sign of normalcy for this time of the year as January winds down.
Despite the challenges of this cold snap, Mainolfi consistently reminded viewers of the fleeting nature of Florida’s frigid weather. “Just gotta watch now both Friday morning and Saturday morning,” he emphasized.
