Frost/Freeze in Glades, Florida

A total of 4-8 hours of freezing temperatures were registered in Glades County on the morning of January 30th. The lowest recorded temperature was 25 degrees at the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) site in Palmdale. Duration of hard freeze (28 degrees or lower) was approximately 1 to 3 hours. No details on crop damage, but overall damage was noted to pastureland and sensitive fruits and vegetables.

A strong cold front moved through South Florida late on January 29th, ushering in cold air of Arctic origin into the region. Two nights of freezing temperatures followed across interior South Florida, with the lowest temperatures occurring on the morning of January 30th. Temperatures in the mid to upper 20s were recorded in Glades, Hendry, and interior Collier counties (the lowest in 10-11 years in some areas) and 30s over most of the remainder of South Florida with the exception of the urban corridor of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Wind chill readings dropped into the mid 20s to lower 30s over most of South Florida on the morning of January 30th.

The front was also accompanied by strong winds of 40-50 mph which affected much of SE Florida during the early morning of January 29th.