Story perspectives

Extreme Cold Watch: Central Florida Braces for Freezing Temps

2/2/2026

Center

Florida Faces Extreme Cold

Central Florida is under an Extreme Cold Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon.
Temperatures will fall into the 20s, with wind chills possibly in the single digits.
Hard freezes lasting up to 15 hours are expected in some areas.
Wind gusts could reach 50 mph.
After the cold snap, temperatures are forecast to rise into the 60s by Tuesday.

Right

Orlando Airport Grounded

On February 1, 2026, Orlando International Airport grounded all flights due to an emergency in the air traffic control tower caused by extreme cold.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop alert for a potential fire, later linked to a sprinkler head activating at 43 degrees.
The ground stop was lifted by 4:15 p.m. that day.
Orlando recorded a temperature of 24 degrees, breaking the previous February record of 28 degrees set in 1936.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold warning for east-central Florida, predicting wind chills between 14-20 degrees.

History

Historical Context

The severe cold wave of 1936 marked one of the harshest winters in U.S. history, with temperatures plummeting below -40°F in parts of Montana. This event was part of a broader trend of extreme weather, echoing recent cold snaps like the one in 2021, which raised concerns about climate change and its impact on weather patterns, particularly in regions like Florida.

1 of 3

Florida Faces Extreme Cold

Central Florida is under an Extreme Cold Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon.
Temperatures will fall into the 20s, with wind chills possibly in the single digits.
Hard freezes lasting up to 15 hours are expected in some areas.
Wind gusts could reach 50 mph.
After the cold snap, temperatures are forecast to rise into the 60s by Tuesday.

1 / 3