Key Highlights
- National Weather Service issues a freeze warning for parts of the Tampa Bay area.
- Experts advise bringing indoor and outdoor pets inside to protect them from hypothermia.
- Covering sensitive plants with sheets or tarps can help prevent frost damage.
- Safety reminders for space heaters and exposed pipes during cold weather.
- Cold shelters are opening in multiple counties to provide warmth for those experiencing homelessness.
Freeze Warning Brings Cold Weather Preparedness Urgency to Tampa Bay Area
The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for the northern parts of the Tampa Bay area, with wind chills expected to dip into the upper 20s and low 30s. As temperatures plummet, experts are urging residents to take precautions to protect their pets, plants, and space heaters.
Protecting Pets
Local veterinarians remind pet owners that if you’re cold, your pets are cold too. Indoor and outdoor pets should be brought inside, and pet owners are encouraged to shorten walks and monitor outdoor time closely. Dr.
Jenese Williams from Kingdom Pet Hospital warns, “The cold weather affects them just as it would affect us — and sometimes even more. Pets can lose body heat quickly, so it’s important to be considerate of the time they spend outside.”
Protecting Plants
Multiple plants that thrive in Central Florida, including peppers, tomatoes, squash, beans, cucumbers, and watermelon, are not built to handle frost or freezing conditions. Gardening experts recommend covering sensitive plants with a light sheet or tarp to trap heat rising from the ground. David Whitwam from Good Day Garden advises, “These are all plants that cannot take a frost or a freeze. A simple cloth covering can make a big difference overnight.”
Safety Reminders for Space Heaters
As space heaters come out of storage, fire officials are reminding residents to use them safely. Always place heaters on a level, non-flammable surface at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, and bedding. Plug them directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip. Turn them off before going to bed or leaving the room.
Protecting Exposed Pipes and Water Heaters
The cold weather is also affecting plumbing systems. John Monks from JJM Plumbing warns about “water heater season” due to the shock of cold water entering hot tanks, making this a busy time for repairs. Routine maintenance includes flushing out sediment in the tank on a yearly basis. Monks recommends keeping an eye on exposed pipes and insulating them with material available at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace Hardware.
Cold Shelters Opening to Help Homeless Population
As temperatures drop, cold shelters are opening across multiple counties in the Tampa Bay area. In Hillsborough County, for example, Hyde Park United Methodist Church will be hosting a shelter from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., capable of accommodating up to 80 individuals. Felicia Crosby-Rucker, Hillsborough County’s director of homeless and community services, notes that rising living costs are driving the need for emergency shelter. “We’re seeing a lot of people challenged economically, not making enough to earn a living wage,” she said.
Across various locations in Pinellas, St.
Petersburg, Brandon, Plant City, Citrus, Polk, and Pasco counties, cold shelters will be providing warm spaces with meals for those in need. The county is also exploring options to expand hotel rooms for families with young children. No ID is required to enter any of the county’s cold-weather shelters.
