According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Northwest Florida could go as low as the mid-teens or low 20s on Saturday, December 24, 2022, with those low temperatures below freezing persisting for up to four days.
What is a hard freeze?
A freeze occurs between 32 and 24 degrees for two or more hours. A hard freeze is when temperatures dip below 23 degrees Fahrenheit for any duration of time. Pets, plants, people and pipes — the four Ps, as NWS calls them — are all at risk in a hard freeze. North Florida and South Georgia are under a hard freeze watch from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 11 a.m.
How cold will it feel?
Forecasters say to be prepared for “bitterly cold temperatures, strong winds and dangerous wind chills.”
“Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph Friday will result in afternoon wind chills in the teens and 20s,” NWS forecaster say. “Saturday morning`s wind chills will fall into the single digits and teens area-wide with some spots in southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia near zero.”
What should I do to protect my pets while they are outdoors?
Dogs and cats should be provided a warm place to sleep with plenty of food and water.
When going outdoors, short-hair pets may need a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly, according to the ASPCA.
How can I protect my plants and citrus fruits from the hard freeze?
Potted, hanging or contained plants should be moved to an environment that will not reach freezing temperatures, sure as an insulated shed, garage or in your home. Another option is to group container plants in a protected area, such as an interior corner of a covered patio, and cover them with plastic, according to the Louisiana State University Ag Center .
It is recommended that you harvest citrus fruits before a hard freeze, which can ruin citrus after 10 hours, according to experts.
“The deal with citrus is when you start getting down to 26 or 28, the fruit starts to get damaged by the freeze,” said Mark Tancig, horticulture extension agent for the University of Florida and Institute of Food and Agricultural Science for Leon County. “The fruit may look OK on the outside, but inside you’ll notice these mushy spots where the cells are basically damaged by the freeze.”
He notes that thick-skinned fruits like satsumas, Meyer lemons, kumquats and grapefruit can be cold tolerant, but it’s not worth the gamble. With tender veggies, Tancig recommended piling mulch over them to keep them covered.
Other methods for protecting citrus plants, according to HGTV:
- For extra protection, wrap trunks and consider banking soil up on trunks of small trees.
- Drape lightweight material over entire trees, making sure it goes all the way to the ground and is vented on sunny or milder days.
- Add incandescent lights for extra warmth.
What should pool owners do?
If you own a pool whether it’s a salt system or chlorine system, the guidance is the same.
“The best thing is to run your pump overnight so you can keep that water moving,” said Ken Smith, owner of Pinch A Penny Pool Patio & Spa in Bannerman Crossings. “Most are underground, but if you felt safer covering the pipes, you can do that as well.
Smith said he actually shifts his timer in the winter so the pool pump is running overnight to ensure he doesn’t forget to turn it on.
Are my water pipes at risk?
Pipes are susceptible to freezing and bursting in a hard freeze.
“To avoid water pipes breaking due to frigid air, utility customers are advised to run at least one faucet in their home or business at a thin stream,” the city of Tallahassee advised in an email news release. “This allows water to flow through the pipes and lowers the risk of broken water lines during freezing conditions. Unlike other liquids, water expands when it freezes. When water pipes freeze, the expanding water can break the pipe, and customers can be left with a thoroughly soaked house when the pipes thaw.”
If you see water trickling out of spigots in area parks and public spaces, this is part of the city’s cold-weather plan to prevent or minimize issues caused by the cold.
Below are other tips from the American Red Cross on preventing pipe problems:
- Insulate pipes located outside or in the attic with cloth or a similar material to help prevent freezing.
- Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors.
- Close garage doors if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Let water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
What should I know about space heater safety?
Space heaters are a popular option to keep your home cozy and warm when the weather is freezing. However, safe use of these devices is paramount.
Space heaters should stay three feet away from anything that can burn, especially loose, highly flammable objects such as curtains or bedding. Do not use an extension cord for a space heater and always turn the heater off when going to bed or leaving the room.