JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s a record-breaking cold day here in Jacksonville, and the chill is definitely being felt across the city.
Families are bundling up, protecting plants, and road crews are closely monitoring forecasts and roads.
Meteorologist Michelle McCormick noted that the last time Jacksonville saw such cold was in 1927 when the record low was 22 degrees. Interestingly, that was the same year the Florida Theatre opened!
RELATED: Jacksonville ties record low of 22 degrees set 99 years ago. Here’s what you can expect this weekend
Residents are taking precautions against the cold. Carrie Schultz, a Springfield resident, explained her method: “The white drapes? I mean, I’m just covering my plants so they don’t get burned up or frozen up. I covered it last night.”
Her home was built in 1908 so we asked about insulation. “Well insulated house. Like my heating bill is still under $300,” she said.
Local resident Sean shared his thoughts on the cold, “Good, man, I’m doing really good. It’s just cold outside, but you can’t beat the weather.”
Outdoor work has slowed due to the cold. Jim Hoebbel, General Manager of The Grounds Guys said, “Because it’s freaking cold. In the winter months, the work slows down. Just like, you know, the plants aren’t used to this, our people aren’t use to this. My guy’s are at the house right now.”
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 2 is winter-ready. “Our crews are monitoring the forecast and standing by to activate anti-icing systems as freezing temps move into Florida this weekend. Keeping our roads safe is always the priority,” FDOT said. They encourage the public to check their social media pages for the latest updates on road conditions and winter weather responses.
Similarly, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is actively monitoring weather forecasts across the state:
“The latest forecast models indicate a significantly less potential for impact in terms of snowfall and accumulation than previously anticipated. Georgia DOT remains in close coordination with the National Weather Service Peachtree City office and is receiving regular briefings and updates as conditions evolve. At this time, GDOT crews are prepared to mobilize more focused regional pretreatment and response efforts should the need arise; a focused activation and treatment plan can be mobilized and executed quickly as conditions warrant. However, a large-scale mobilization is not planned at this time due to the current forecast which shows currently a minimal chance of impact to Georgia roadways,” GDOT stated.
FDOT recommends people closely monitor its social media page. It recently posted:
“FDOT District 2 is winter-ready ❄️ Our crews are monitoring the forecast and standing by to activate anti-icing systems as freezing temps move into Florida this weekend. Keeping our roads safe is always the priority."