With unexpectedly cold temperatures and quarantines due to the pandemic, Florida is rushing to have a Christmas like no other in recent memory. And not to mention the iguanas.
The National Meteorological Service warned this week that South Florida could record its coldest Christmas day in 21 years. The casualties on Saturday could drop close to zero degrees Celsius, the agency said.
“Colder temperatures are expected for Christmas,” the agency expressed on Twitter. “Iguanas may fall.”
As they are cold-blooded reptiles, iguanas that live in trees in South Florida are often paralyzed in the cold, causing them to fall to the ground when the temperature plummets, even though they are still alive.
In Jacksonville, temperatures are expected to drop by about 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) on Thursday to around 1 degree Celsius below zero (30 Fahrenheit) on Friday, which would be one of the five coldest Christmas days that have been registered, the National Meteorological Service stated there.
Several storms and strong winds were approaching the north of the state on Christmas Eve.
Hostels were opened across the state to accommodate people who would otherwise be exposed to the cold, including several churches planning to hold Christmas Masses. Many of the hostels promised to maintain social distancing and masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.