The National Weather Service in Tampa issued a Cold Weather Advisory early this Monday, warning residents of Southwest and West Central Florida to brace for unusually chilly conditions. According to the bulletin, "Very cold wind chills as low as 25 to 30 expected" could sweep through the area from 1 AM to 9 AM EST today.
The specific regions impacted include several counties, ranging from Pinellas to Inland Lee. The advisory cautions that the unseasonably cold temperatures could cause hypothermia if individuals are exposed for prolonged periods and also pose a risk to sensitive vegetation due to patchy frost.
Moving forward, the forecast anticipates a variable week in terms of weather. After the dip in temperature, Tampa can expect to see a sunny day with a high near 66, according to the National Weather Service. The weather should warm slightly, with Wednesday's high potentially reaching 75 degrees and an almost idyllic high near 80 on Friday, suggesting that the cold snap will be short-lived.
For gardeners and plant enthusiasts, the advisory underlines the potential damage to "sensitive vegetation." Alongside dressing appropriately, protecting plants from the frost is also a consideration, "Patchy frost is also likely in wind protected areas that could kill sensitive vegetation," the NWS stated.
