Cold Weather

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a USDA disaster declaration Wednesday that supports Florida's agricultural producers impacted by historic freezes. The declaration follows a bipartisan push by all members of Florida’s congressional delegation urging USDA to provide relief for farmers and producers devastated by the late January, early February freeze.

With frigid temperatures in the forecast and experienced in Southwest Florida, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee and Hendry counties are opening shelters or providing warming locations. Cancellations remained high at Florida airports

With farmers caught shorthanded and with crops not ready for harvesting, a pair of winter storms at the beginning and end of January potentially inflicted more than $3.17 billion in losses to the state’s agricultural industry.

Cold temperatures for two nights to start the week, but the coldest night will be Monday night into Tuesday. Strong winds and low humidity levels will increase the wildfire risk across Florida as the extreme drought worsens.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission examination of recent large-scale manatee deaths in Lee County said a shutdown of a power plant near the canal the animals use for warmth could be a mitigating factor in the deaths.

Reports of at least 25 dead manatees in Lee County have been received by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials. A statement from the FWC says that they recently received an increase in reports of deceased manatees in the Orange River and surrounding areas of Fort Myers.

Several Southwest Florida areas are preparing shelter accommodations for cold weather forecast for tonight and Friday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says 5,195 invasive green iguanas were removed from Florida’s ecosystems under and executive order thanks to the efforts of members of the public, partners, and staff.

We Floridians aren't used to chilly weather, which makes cold snaps like this week's challenging for our bodies and minds to adjust to. Florida Gulf Coast University Social Work Professor Ariella VanHara says this can bring unexpected mental health impacts.

The odds of significant cold, coastal, and marine impacts across South Florida this weekend and beyond continues to increase. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect for the Lake Okeechobee region and coastal Palm beach County and a Freeze Watch is in effect for inland Collier, Miami Dade and Broward counties. Wind chills could drop into the 20s across all of South Florida early Sunday morning. Very breezy conditions are expected on Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning as the strong cold front pushes through the area. Sustained winds 15-25 mph could gust up to 40 mph, with highest winds likely along the immediate coastlines. A Gale Watch is in effect for local waters beginning on Saturday afternoon and evening. Sustained winds of 30-40 knots with higher gusts is possible across the Atlantic and Gulf waters through Sunday afternoon. Wave heights could peak as high as 12 feet across the Gulf and Atlantic waters during the day on Sunday as well.