A powerful cold blast is set to send iguanas tumbling from trees in South Florida while driving hard freezes deep into the orange groves and bringing a rare chance of Gulf Coast snow, forcing millions across the Sunshine State to bundle up.
Temperatures are projected to plummet to levels not observed or experienced since 2010, 1989, 1977 and 1966 in some cases from Saturday night to Monday morning. Freezes during those years helped transform and shift the Florida groves that were introduced in the 1500s and then expanded for commercial purposes in the 1800s.
Low temperatures in the mid-20s F are forecast for Orlando on Sunday and Monday mornings. The last time they were in this temperature territory was in 2010. To put the cold in long historical perspective, the all-time observed record low for any date at Orlando is 19 degrees set in 1985 and 1895.
In Miami, temperatures are projected to dip into the mid-30s on Sunday and Monday mornings. Temperatures last reached this level in 2010 as well. The all-time record low at Miami for any date is 31, set in 1977.
"Green iguanas are sensitive to the cold and can become stunned when temperatures fall into the 40s and 30s," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. "When that happens, they may lose their grip and fall from the trees. It's a fairly unique cold-weather condition in Florida."
