Polar Vortex To Bring Temps In The 20s To Parts Of FL: Reports

FLORIDA — Even Florida will see frigid temperatures this week as a polar vortex brings bitterly cold air and heavy snow to other parts of the Central and Eastern United States.

The Arctic blast will push into the Sunshine State Monday evening, following a line of isolated and potentially severe storms, including gusty winds and the possibility of tornadoes, in the afternoon, according to WESH.

The cold front will bring freezing temperatures to areas of northern Florida and frigid weather to the rest of the peninsula overnight.

“Cold blast on the way! You may need to put on a jacket before you even look at these temperatures for Tuesday morning,” Greg Dee, meteorologist with ABC Action News in the Tampa Bay area, wrote in a Facebook post. “Cold weather advisories are up for a wind chill as low as 25 (degrees Fahrenheit) at times. The wind is actually good here because a steady breeze will prevent frost. No frost advisories have currently been issued.”

Denis Phillips, also a meteorologist with ABC Action News, added in a separate Facebook post, “Temps drop like a rock into the 30s by Tuesday morning!”

In parts of northern Florida, the wind chill could lead to temperatures as low as 20 degrees at times, Newsweek said.

Parts of the Panhandle, including Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Jackson counties will see the coldest weather and are under a freeze watch, reports said.

Cold weather advisories are in place Monday morning for areas of the Panhandle, including the Pensacola area, the National Weather Service said.

Going south into the Miami area, temperatures are expected to dip into the mid-50s overnight Monday with temperatures as low as the upper 40s Tuesday night — which means a chance of falling iguanas, according to NBC Miami.

Farmers and growers throughout the state are especially at risk during this extreme cold snap. They’re preparing for the lower temperatures and hoping for the best.

"Right now you just hope and pray, you have a lot of people in this area, and especially in South Florida is what I am concerned about because that is where most of your winter veg is from," Bradley Gardner, owner of Gardner’s Fresh Produce, told WESH.

Here’s the upcoming forecast for the Tampa Bay area from the National Weather Service:

• Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 3 and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Wind chill values as low as 36 early. North wind 6 to 8 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind around 7 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
• Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.