Freeze Watch Issued for Sarasota

Sarasotans might discover a heat setting on their thermostats today as temperatures will be in the freezing range.

The National Weather Service has issued a hard freeze watch for Sarasota and other parts of Florida for late Monday night into Tuesday morning and Tuesday night into Wednesday morning where lows are expcted to be in the mid to upper 20s, which could kill or damage crops, the Weather Service advised. The highs will be in the 50s to 60s.

Could Sarasota reach record lows the next two days? It'll be close, but so far no.

According to WeatherUnderground.com, Sarasota's record low for Jan. 3 is 30 degrees, set in 1979. For Jan. 4, the record is 28 degrees, set in 1928. 

Weather.com and the Weather Service forecast a 33 degree low for Tuesday night. While the Weather Service says 44 degrees for Wednesday and Weather.com says 42 degrees.

Regardless of what the mercury says, it will feel chillier that what it is.

A wind chill advisory is also issued by the Weather Service, where winds could make it feel like 25 to 35 degrees, and that advisory expires at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Weather Service says it could feel like 24 degrees in Sarasota Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning.

In addition, a red flag warning is in effect due to dry conditions and the wind, creating conditions for a fire that could spread rapidly, the Weather Service reported.

Here are a few tips to get you through the cold weather spell:

• Bring your plants indoors if possible. If you can't, cover them outside with cloth, a tarp or cut off the top of a milk jug or soda bottle and stick the rest over top the flowers or vegetables.

• Dress in layers. A thin coat or windbreaker won't cut it.

• Keep blinds and curtains closed to help keep heat inside the home.