TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay area is bracing for historic cold on Tuesday morning, with the National Weather Service forecasting 37 degrees, just three degrees shy of the city’s record low for Nov. 11 set in 1892.
WATCH: Tampa braces for near-record cold as Tuesday morning temps dip to 37 degrees
Forecasters said the drop in temperatures will bring wind chills that make it feel even colder, prompting locals to bundle up for a rare blast of November chill.
The US National Weather Service Tampa Bay, Florida, described the cold snap as “pretty impressive” and encouraged residents to prepare for near-record morning lows.
Temperatures this low for early November are uncommon in Tampa, making Tuesday morning one of the coldest starts to the day in more than a century.
For many locals, it’s a welcome break from months of heat. Antonio Hernandez, from Tampa, said he’s more than ready for the cooler weather.
“Oh, I’m loving this. After this summer heat, I’m ready for the cooler weather,” he said with a laugh. “Probably going to go to the beach.”
But as some enjoy the brief taste of winter, officials are urging caution, especially for anyone using space heaters to stay warm. Lealman Fire Division Chief Jim Millican said older models without safety features can quickly ignite nearby curtains, bedding, or furniture.
“It takes a split second when that thing’s heated up to get a curtain near it, or a drape near it, or even next to the bed or bedding or couch, or you throw a towel on the floor, that thing — it gets it immediately,” he said. “Those things are super duper hot, they have no safety feature on them, and they will catch your house on fire immediately.”
He recommends using newer heaters with automatic shut-offs and keeping them away from anything that can burn.
Hillsborough County and other counties across our region have opened cold-weather shelters and are offering other resources. See the full list of shelter locations here.
The chill is expected to last only a couple of days before milder air returns later in the week.
See hourly forecast here.
See the daily forecast here.
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