Freeze Watch: freeze watch issued as Central Florida braces for cold wind chills and closures
A freeze watch is going into effect Monday night into Tuesday as a cold front pushes through Central Florida and ushers in gusty, much drier air and dangerously low wind chills. Local advisories for predawn hours and a freeze warning for Tuesday morning are already in place, affecting communities, parks and outdoor plans.
Cold front brings showers Sunday to Orlando and fails to break drought
In Orlando and across Central Florida, a cold front moved through Sunday, producing scattered showers and a few downpours. Temperatures Sunday still reached the mid to upper 70s before cooler air settled in later in the afternoon, but the rain will not make much of a difference as the drought continues to worsen.
Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch as gusty, very dry air arrives
Gusty conditions combined with very low humidity have triggered a Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch in parts of the area. Officials warned that it is not a good time for any outdoor burning as the drier air increases brush-fire risk and fire spread potential.
Cold Weather Advisory for predawn Monday, NWS timing and affected counties
At 11: 35 a. m. on Sunday, the National Weather Service released a cold weather advisory valid for Monday morning from 3 a. m. to 9 a. m. That advisory covers Coastal Levy and Inland Levy counties as well as Citrus, Hernando and Sumter counties. The advisory signals seasonably cold air temperatures or wind chill values that are expected but are not classified as extremely cold; people were urged to dress appropriately and cover exposed skin when venturing outdoors.
Wind chills, Monday and Tuesday morning lows and sheltering advice
Monday morning will be a cold start, with air temperatures in the 30s and 40s and wind chills dropping into the 20s and 30s. Afternoon highs will only reach the 50s and it will remain breezy. Tuesday morning looks even colder: some spots could wake up in the 20s with wind chills in the mid to upper 20s. Officials advised making plans to cover plants and bring pets inside.
Freeze Watch and freeze warning for Tuesday, cities named and park closures
A Freeze Watch goes into effect Monday night into Tuesday, and the National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Tuesday, February 24, from 3 a. m. to 9 a. m. The freeze warning includes the cities of Celebration, Orlando, Kissimmee, Oviedo and Clermont. During the freeze period, the NWS estimates sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees are possible. Because of the cold, Disney's Blizzard Beach water park will be closed on both Monday and Tuesday this coming week, and area water parks have closed a few times so far in 2026 due to the cold.
Cold-weather products, warnings definitions and practical preparedness steps
The term Cold Weather Advisory is used when seasonably cold air temperatures or wind chill values, but not extremely cold values, are expected or occurring; the guidance is to dress warmly and protect exposed skin. An Extreme Cold Warning advises avoiding going outside when dangerously low temperatures or wind chills are expected; if travel is necessary, dressing in layers, covering exposed skin and making sure at least one other person knows your whereabouts and is updated when you arrive safely are recommended. An Extreme Cold Watch indicates dangerously cold values are possible and to be prepared; recommendations include adjusting plans to avoid the coldest parts of the day, making sure your car has at least half a tank of gas and updating your winter survival kit.
Local notes, newsroom details and other headlines in the coverage
One meteorologist named Michelle joined the newsroom as a meteorologist in May 2023. For public-file assistance, a contact number listed was 291-6000. A separate item in the assembled reporting noted that an automated article was produced using artificial intelligence and publicly available data and that the template for that piece was created by a regional paper. Other headlines running alongside the weather coverage included: a high stick to the mouth cost Hughes two teeth but his overtime goal lifted the U. S. to gold over Canada; a technology columnist said Apple is testing red as a standout color choice for upcoming iPhone Pro models; a reader roundup promoted ways to keep footwear warm during winter storms; the U. S. men's ice hockey team held up Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 jersey and brought two of his children onto the ice as part of a gold-medal celebration in Milan Cortina; a National Institute on Retirement Security report found the typical American worker has less than $1, 000 saved for retirement; investor attention in the upcoming week was noted to focus on fallout from the Supreme Court's tariff ruling, tensions in Iran and Nvidia's fourth-quarter earnings; mortgage and refinance rates and the 30-year rate near three-year lows on a popular lender marketplace were highlighted; and boxing and fight-card coverage included live-follow items for Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn 2.
With the cold arriving, the guidance is straightforward: protect plants, bring animals indoors, layer up, and prepare vehicles and emergency kits for the colder mornings expected through Tuesday as the region begins to warm back up by the middle of the week.
