Brrrrr - It's Cold Out
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - You got to love it. When South Florida's temperatures take a turn for the cold, or really cold in this case, our fashion sense goes right out the window and we wear whatever we can to stay warm.
In Ft. Lauderdale, Jackie Puff told CBS4's Ted Scouten when it gets really cold like it was Tuesday morning with temperatures plunging into the lower 30s and wind chills in the upper 20s, she digs out the warmest things he owns.
"I'm wearing my Florida winter clothes, which are ridiculous (looking), but I'm freezing, that's all I have," said Puff.
"How old are these Florida winter clothes," asked Scouten.
"I've had them forever, I never wear them, (well) I wear them one day a year, that's all," said Puff.
But while some folks were doing everything they could to stay warm others, like Dennis Marsella, seemed to really enjoy the weather. Marsella, who is well-known at marathons as 'the running waiter' said the cold snap was a welcome change to our usual heat.
"I feel great. I've already run about 11 miles, I got about 9 miles to go and I'm all warmed up," said Marsella has kept track of his pace. "I feel like a million dollars, feel great."
Cynthia Luri said when she took her dog Octavius out for a walk Tuesday morning he was in his glory and didn't want to come in. Before leaving her home however, Luri said she had to do a little bundling up.
"I have two t-shirts on and a long sleeve shirt and a turtle neck over that and big socks," said Luri, "He has nothing but his double layer of fur."
At Port Everglades, manatees tried to stay warm by swimming in the warm waters around the Florida Power & Light power plant. It's one of two Broward "hot spots" for manatees; the other is off the South Fork of the New River, south of I-595 and east of SR 441.
So far this year more than 200 manatees have died, many from cold weather. But biologists say there is an upside to the cold, its Mother Nature's way of getting rid of other creatures that don't belong here, like non-native pythons in the Everglades and the iguana population which can skyrocket if left unchecked.
Tuesday's highs struggled to reach the 60s. Anticipating lows in the 30s and upper 20s Tuesday night into Wednesday, the National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning for Broward, Miami-Dade and mainland Monroe from 11p.m. until 9 a.m. A Freeze Warning means freezing and sub-freezing temperatures are likely and pose a serious threat to crops and other sensitive vegetation.
