Last Updated: 12:37 p.m.
The lowest temperature so far recorded for the past 24 hours in Flagler County was 28 degrees, in various parts of Palm Coast, and the lowest temperature in Northeast Florida did not break below the low 20s, according to figures released by Flagler County Emergency and the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
The Midwest and Northeast were not as lucky: With a reading of 38 below zero in Crane Lake, Minn., and wind chills making it feel like 60 below in parts of Montana, the current 24-hour cycle has brought the lowest temperatures to the contiguous United States in two decades, breaking record lows, closing schools and offices and cancelling thousands of flights.
Sun and high clouds will dominate the region today, with highs only around 40 or the lower 40s in Flagler County, with winds of 10 to 15 mph, and stronger winds along the coast (a small-craft advisory is still in effect). Tuesday night and Wednesday morning a light freeze is still expected locally, especially in the northern part of the county, with low temperatures in the upper 20s or low 30s inland again exposing plants and pets to cold hazards, and the duration of sub-freezing temperatures expected to last between four to six hours.
The freeze warning is in effect from 7 p.m. this evening to 10 a.m. Wednesday. It covers St. Johns and Flagler counties, including St. Augustine and Palm Coast. The National Weather Service issued the warning at 9:46 Tuesday morning.
In terms of local emergencies, it was a quiet night–so quiet that Palm Coast’s fire chief, Mike Beadle, was not wanting to use the “Q-word” in its entirety Tuesday morning.
“It was a relatively Q night,” Beadle said. “I can’t say the whole word. It’ll jinx all of us. You included.”
Palm Coast fire crews ran one medical call overnight, and responded to an accident in the L Section. That was it. No fire calls or smoke investigations. “We had a good night and hopefully tonight will be more of the same,” Beadle said. In addition to being concerned about the community, he added, “We’re more concerned with our crews going out in it for long periods of time.”
Same story from the county’s perspective: “It was fairly quiet, very quiet,” Flagler County Fire Chief Don Petito said this morning as several of his crews were getting ready to go to Palm Beach County for a statewide exercise in emergency response.
Flagler County Emergency Operations Director Kevin Guthrie said his division received no requests for assistance from county or city governments, nor from individuals, though contingency plans are in place should needs arise, including assistance with shelter.
Low temperatures, as reported by Flagler County Emergency’s Bob Pickering:
Temp / Location / Source / Notes
29 / Bunnell / Flagler EOC / Wind Chill 22
29 / Flagler Beach / Skywarn / Bird Bath Frozen
31 / West Palm Coast / Skywarn
28 / Northwest Palm Coast / Home WX Station
28 / Northeast Palm Coast
28 / Marineland / Flagler EOC / Automated WX Station
28 / Hammock / Home WX Station – Hammock Dunes
