St. Pete-Clearwater Sun

Tampa Bay broke a 133-year-old temperature record on Tuesday morning, registering 39 degrees and surpassing the previous low of 40 degrees set in 1892.

The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for northern counties as the first major cold snap of the season arrived. The unusually cold weather prompted responses across the region.

Cold weather shelters opened across the Tampa Bay area Monday night, with Hyde Park United Methodist Church accommodating up to 80 individuals. County officials estimate approximately 800 people in Hillsborough County were without homes Monday night. Shelters across Hillsborough offered warm spaces and meals for 300 individuals and 100 families, with no ID required for entry.

Local veterinarians and animal welfare organizations urged residents to bring pets indoors and limit outdoor exposure time, warning that hypothermia can affect animals in low temperatures. The Humane Society recommended providing sheltered spaces for outdoor or feral cats, such as enclosed areas that block wind.

The cold weather affected Central Florida attractions, with Universal’s Volcano Bay and SeaWorld’s Aquatica closing Monday, while Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon announced a closure for Tuesday.

Fire officials reminded residents using space heaters to place them on level, non-flammable surfaces at least three feet from furniture and curtains, plug them directly into wall outlets, and turn them off when leaving rooms.

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(Image credit: Accuweather)

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