Green Iguana – Courtesy: Image by Scottslm from Pixabay
As an Arctic cold front moves through the country, forecasters in Florida are warning of plummeting iguanas due to the Sunshine State experiencing a “hard freeze” during the holiday weekend.
Northeast Florida might have lows in the 20s inland and temperatures approaching 30 at the coast on Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
When the outside temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the cold-blooded lizards begin to become lethargic.
Although the invading reptiles are stunned by the low temperatures, the iguanas won’t necessarily perish. That implies that as temperatures rise, many of them will awaken.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, green iguanas are an invasive species that are not native to the Sunshine State.
Although iguanas are not aggressive or hazardous to people, they can dig extensive tunnels and cause damage to seawalls, walkways, and landscape vegetation. The males can reach lengths of at least 5 feet and weigh around 20 pounds.
In the days leading up to Christmas, the impending arctic air mass is anticipated to blow the coldest air of the year through much of the United States, bringing dangerously low temperatures and raising the possibility of hazardous travel conditions.
It will fall into the 30s over the course of Christmas Eve. On Dec. 24, temperatures will struggle to reach a high of the 50s. It will feel chilly because of the wind chill.
It may reach 38 degrees with wind chill on Christmas Eve night and during Christmas. Then, on Christmas Day, South Florida trends to get a little warmer, with a high about 57 degrees.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
