Bundle up! Weekend low temperatures could be sub-freezing on Treasure Coast
Mother Nature is trying again.
After Monday dipped to 34 degrees in parts of the Treasure Coast, but missed the freezing point and didn't set any cold weather records, meteorologists now are expecting below-freezing low temperatures for the weekend.
Fort Pierce and Vero Beach may break or tie record cold temperatures on Saturday and Sunday, said Kole Fehling, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
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Lows may hit 29 degrees in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach both days, Fehling said.
"Normally our low is 51 at Fort Pierce and 52 at Vero," he said. "So, (we're) talking a 20-degree difference from normal."
He said Martin County temperatures may drop into the upper- to mid-30s.
The record low for Jan. 29 was set in 1986, when it was 27 degrees in Vero Beach and 29 in Fort Pierce, said meteorologist Derrick Weitlich.
A record was set for Jan. 30 in 1978, when Vero Beach temperatures dropped to a low of 30 and on that date in 1966 Fort Pierce hit a low of 32, Fehling said. These records could be broken Sunday.
Highs Saturday and Sunday are expected to be mid- to upper-50s.
On Jan. 31, 1966, Vero Beach plummeted to 26 degrees and Fort Pierce to 27. Monday, lows are expected in low- to mid-30s and highs in mid-60s.
The cold won't last long.
"During winter we get these blasts of cold air and then usually we retreat back to warmer temperatures," Fehling said.
He said because we're in a La Nina weather pattern, the cold blasts are short-lived.
La Niña is marked by cooler Pacific Ocean water that pushes a polar jet stream through the Pacific Northwest and Canada and eventually travels to the South. It also tends to increase hurricanes in the Atlantic during hurricane season.
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The cold blast is coming from a jet stream of cold air from Canada traveling further south than usual, Fehling said.
He said some rain is forecast for Friday and early Saturday, but Saturday and Sunday will likely be dry.
"It'll just be cold behind the front that brought us the rain on Friday," Fehling said.
Wind gusts may rise to 25 mph Saturday morning, but should relax by later at night and Sunday.
He cautioned boaters, as the waters are expected to be rougher than usual over the weekend, he said, and reminded people to bring pets inside away from the low temperatures and wind gusts.
Cold weather shelters
Cold-weather shelters across the Treasure Coast are expected to open.
The Image of Christ shelter at 3090 Avenue G in Fort Pierce will open from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday into Monday morning.
The Source at 1015 Commerce Ave, Vero Beach, offers shelter every night through its Dignity Bus, which houses 20 people. Reservations can be made by calling The Source at (772-564-0202.
The 10th Street Community Center, 724 S.E. 10th St., Stuart, will provide a cold-weather shelter beginning 6 p.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday, and 6 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Monday.
The Salvation Army of Indian River County, 2655 Fifth Street Southwest, will open its cold weather shelter for the first 40 people at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Transportation to the shelter will be provided at 5 p.m. from Indiantown Village Hall, 15516 S.W. Osceola St., Indiantown; 5:30 p.m. from Love and Hope in Action, 1760 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart; and 5:30-5:45 p.m. from the Salvation Army, 821 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Stuart.
Protect your pets in the cold
If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.
Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes.
Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth.
Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin.
Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
Source: ASPCA
Protect Florida plants in cold weather
Specialty plant-covering material is widely available from local nurseries or landscape specialists.
In-ground plants and garden beds
In most cases, covering should be kept loose around the plant. If possible, minimize the cover’s contact with tender leaves and delicate stems. Some type of support structure or wire cage can be helpful.
Plant covering should extend all the way to the ground for full protection, creating an “air pocket” around the plant that traps heat inside. Anchor the covering as necessary to prevent it from blowing away or shifting position.
When the temperature rises or the winds die down, remove the covering.
Avoid plastic sheeting. Although plastic might seem like an easy and effective way to shield your plants, it doesn’t “breathe,” and it tends to allow moisture to form on plant leaves, causing them to burn.
Potted plants and container gardens
Extremely delicate flowering plants should, ideally, be moved indoors during a freeze. Even short-term exposure can cause leaf damage or prevent a plant from flowering. In extreme cases, cold can quickly kill a young plant.
If the containers are too large, or if there are too many to bring indoors, it’s best to try to congregate them together as much as possible. Cover them in groups, in much the same way you would cover plants in the ground.
Again, once temperatures rise, separate the containers as soon as possible, and return them to their original places in the garden and the rejuvenating benefits of fresh air and sunshine.
What to do after a freeze
Don’t immediately reach for the pruning shears, even if your plants have some damaged foliage.
Don’t fertilize. Even though you might think of fertilizer as a “treat” for your plants, fertilizing encourages new growth, and the plant first needs some time to recover before it starts growing again. Don’t encourage new growth before all threat of freezing has passed.
Some leaf drop is to be expected following a freeze. Don’t worry, it’s normal. Leaves that appear wilted or those that turn partially or even completely dark are typically not a major concern; it is a sign of foliage burn, and new foliage will likely appear in the spring.
Fungus, identified by brown spots that appear on leaf surfaces, can be treated with a systemic fungicide when the cold snap is over. Some gardeners spray with fungicide in late fall as a preventive measure to increase plant resistance to fungus.
Source: ASI Landscape Management in Tampa
Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm focusing on Martin County. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at Mauricio.LaPlante@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Weekend freezing temperatures expected to hit parts of Treasure Coast
