By Joe Edwards
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Forecast data mapped by Newsweek highlights just some of the Florida cities facing freezing wind chills early this week amid a major cold wave.
Why It Matters
As of early Monday the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued cold weather advisories across much of the Sunshine State, warning that low wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
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What To Know
Widespread wind chills in the 20s and 30s are anticipated across much of the state early this week, according to the NWS.
"The wind chill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when outside. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold," the agency explains on its website. "As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it FEEL much colder."
Meteorologist Matt Devitt noted that in Southwest Florida, "record cold" is anticipated on Tuesday.
"To put things into perspective, this will rival the coldest it got all last winter … and it's only mid-November. In fact, it hasn't gotten this cold this early in nearly 60 years (1966). Temperatures will be over 20 degrees below average," the forecaster wrote in a Sunday social media post.
"While I'm not expecting a local freeze at this time, it will *feel* like freezing with the wind," Devitt added.
The forecasts for Florida come as much of the country is facing a blast of icy air that the NWS said "will bring significantly colder weather across the eastern two thirds of the country early this week."
The agency said minimum and maximum temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees below normal are expected to tie or break numerous records across the Southeast through Monday night. On Tuesday, record-breaking temperatures may also be seen across much of the Florida Peninsula as the polar air mass moves southward, it added.
What People Are Saying
NWS Tampa Bay on X, Sunday: "The coldest air of the season will arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning! A freeze watch is in effect for Levy and Citrus Counties, and wind chills will drop into the 20s and low 30s across all of west central and southwest Florida."
NWS Miami said on X, Saturday: "It'll be a bit of a ‘temperature roller coaster’ over the next several days as we go from heat indices in the low to mid 90s this afternoon (and again on Sunday PM) to wind chill values in the 30s near Lake Okeechobee on Tuesday morning."
NWS Jacksonville said on X, Monday: "Gusty winds will combine with plummeting temperatures to create dangerously cold wind chill values tonight.
"A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued for most of our area.
"If you will be using a space heater, please make sure you know how to properly use & maintain it!"
What Happens Next
The NWS issues local forecast updates regularly via its website and social media channels.
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