The "Excessive Cold Hazard Map" depicts the local threat of expected cold season weather conditions for specified areas. It is largely based on one or more of the following: minimum temperature relative to freezing, lowest wind chill, measurable freezing/frozen precipitation, and frost.
Excessive Cold Threat Level |
Threat Level Descriptions |
Extreme |
"An Extreme Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."
A very hard freeze with temperatures below 24 degrees (F)...OR...areas to widespread measurable freezing/frozen precipitation (not a trace) with coverage more than 25% within a defined area...OR...lowest wind chills below 10 degrees (F) with at least 10 mph wind. |
High |
"A High Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."
A hard freeze with temperatures between 24 - 28 degrees (F)...OR...patchy measurable freezing/frozen precipitation (not a trace) with coverage less than 25% within a defined area...OR...lowest wind chills 10 - 14 degrees (F) with at least 10 mph wind. |
Moderate |
"A Moderate Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."
A significant freeze with temperatures between 28 - 32 degrees (F)...OR...lowest wind chills 15 - 19 degrees (F) with at least 10 mph wind...OR...widespread frost with coverage more than 55% within a defined area. |
Low |
"A Low Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."
Near freezing with temperatures between 33 - 35 degrees (F)...OR...lowest wind chills 20 - 24 degrees (F) with at least 10 mph wind...OR...areas of frost with coverage 25 - 54% within a defined area. |
Very Low |
" A Very Low Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."
Lowest wind chills 25 - 34 degrees (F) with at least 10 mph wind...OR...patchy frost with coverage less than 25% within a defined area. |
Non-Threatening |
" No Discernable Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."
Cold season weather conditions are non-threatening. |
| Note: Cold season weather conditions become hazardous when the associated cold is considered to be "excessive" according to local standards. Cold temperatures may support the occurrence of a freeze, low wind chills, freezing/frozen precipitation, and/or frost. Importantly, each of these hazards represent a considerable potential negative impact to central Floridians. |
National Weather Service Forecast Office
