Freeze Watch: Central Florida Braces for Hard Freeze, Fire Warnings and Park Closures
A freeze watch is now in effect for parts of Central Florida as a cold front sweeps through, bringing gusty, much drier air that will drop temperatures into the 30s and 20s and create dangerous wind chills early this week.
Cold front brings showers Sunday, then a sharp cooldown
A cold front moved through Sunday, producing scattered showers and a few downpours before skies began to clear from north to south after lunch. Temperatures on Sunday reached the mid to upper 70s before cooler air settled in later in the afternoon, and showers tapered off around 1–2 p. m. across the viewing area.
Wind and low humidity trigger fire warnings
Once the front passes, gusty conditions combined with very low humidity prompted a Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch for parts of the region; officials warned it is not a good time for any outdoor burning. The combination of gusty winds and dry air followed the Sunday transition from warmer readings into the cooler, blustery pattern.
Freeze Watch and Cold Weather Advisories set for Monday and Tuesday
A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from 3 a. m. to 9 a. m. ET on Monday, a window expected to bring dangerously cold feels-like temperatures with Monday morning lows in the 30s and 40s and wind chills dropping into the 20s and 30s. Monday afternoon highs are forecast to reach only the 50s and remain breezy.
The freeze watch rolls into Monday night into Tuesday, with Tuesday morning looking even colder; some spots could wake up in the 20s and wind chills are expected in the mid to upper 20s. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Tuesday from 3 a. m. to 9 a. m. ET covering cities including Celebration, Orlando, Kissimmee, Oviedo and Clermont, and the NWS estimates sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees are possible during that window.
Freeze Watch locations and county alerts
Freeze Watches have been posted for multiple counties: Marion, Sumter and Flagler counties, along with FOX 51 locales in Alachua, Levy and Gilchrist counties. Northwest of Orlando is where temperatures could slide to below freezing, and some spots northwest of Orlando may fall into the upper 20s on Sunday night into early Monday.
Closures, past freezes and what residents should do
The area suffered a hard freeze at the end of January, and the cold this week has already prompted closures: Disney's Blizzard Beach water park will be closed both Monday and Tuesday this coming week. Area water parks have closed a few times so far in 2026 because of the cold. Officials urged residents to cover plants and bring pets inside as the cold arrives.
Temperatures will remain cold through Tuesday morning, with a warming trend beginning mid to late week and highs expected to be back in the 80s by Thursday. The cold pattern and these specific projections were provided by FOX 35 storm team meteorologist T. J. Springer on February 22, 2026.
Michelle joined News 6 as a meteorologist in May 2023. If you need help with the Public File, call 291-6000.
Expect recovery from the cold by the middle of the week, with officials and meteorologists monitoring the Monday 3 a. m. to 9 a. m. ET advisory window and the Tuesday 3 a. m. to 9 a. m. ET freeze warning as the next confirmed events.
