Freeze Warnings Issued in 3 States Across Southeast

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued freeze warnings across parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana through Saturday morning. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30°F are expected, with wind chill values plunging to 27°F.

Residents are advised to take precautions to protect themselves, their homes and their pets during this ongoing cold snap.

The warnings follow a historic snowstorm earlier in the week that brought rare snowfall to the Gulf Coast, disrupting travel and breaking century-old records. AccuWeather estimates that the storm caused $14–$17 billion in economic damage across the South.

Why This Matters

The extreme cold poses significant risks to life and property in a region unaccustomed to prolonged freezing temperatures. Frost and freeze conditions could damage crops, sensitive vegetation and outdoor plumbing. Hypothermia is also a concern due to wind chills.

The polar vortex, combined with a southward shift in the jet stream and a high-pressure ridge near Alaska, has caused Arctic air to blanket the eastern United States. Southern states, which lack resources such as ice-melting compounds, face additional challenges in managing icy conditions on roads and sidewalks.

What To Know

Freeze warnings are in effect through 9:00 a.m. ET Friday, with a second freeze warning from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Saturday.

Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 22°F and wind chills as low as 18°F are expected.

Prolonged exposure to cold could lead to hypothermia. Frost could damage crops and outdoor plants, while unprotected plumbing is at risk of freezing.

Residents are advised to wear layered clothing, hats and gloves when outdoors, protect pipes by wrapping or allowing them to drip, ensure pets and livestock have adequate shelter, drive cautiously and have a cold weather survival kit, including fuel and batteries, and use sand, cat litter, or pea gravel to reduce slipping hazards on icy surfaces.

What People Are Saying

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said in a statement: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for a lot of these folks down there.”

Local residents have shared their struggles and improvisations to cope with the cold. Many are wrapping pipes, preparing cold weather survival kits, and using sand or gravel to reduce slipping hazards on icy surfaces.

The NWS office in Tampa Bay, Florida, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Please plan for a few more days of very cold conditions!! The coldest morning will be on Saturday with lows ranging from the low 20s north to mid 30s south. A gradual warm up is anticipated into next week & mostly sunny conditions in place through early next week!”

What Happens Next

The cold spell is expected to persist through Saturday morning, with temperatures beginning to warm over the weekend. Northern Florida and other areas affected should return to normal seasonal temperatures by next week.

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