Freezing Christmas Forecast: Falling Iguanas Expected In Miami

Miami FL

23 December, 2020

3:24 PM

Description

SOUTH FLORIDA — Forget snow. An approaching cold front can only mean one thing for South Florida — frozen iguanas falling from the trees. And Miami-area residents might just see the green stuff this Christmas. Temperatures could dip as low as the 30s and 40s Friday night and early Saturday morning with wind chills in the 30s in many areas, which means "falling iguanas are possible," the National Weather Service in Miami tweeted. The cold front should reach South Florida by Thursday, the agency said. The current forecast predicts a high of 64 degrees during the day on Friday. This could mean the area will see the coldest Christmas in 21 years, as 1999 was the last year that Miami saw a high temperature in the 60s on Christmas, the NWS said. Dec 21 - Brrr! Much colder temps expected for Christmas. Low temperatures in the 30s/40s and falling Iguanas are possible. Keep up with forecast changes and stay warm! #flwx pic.twitter.com/BRYfugIE5Q— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) December 21, 2020 Frozen iguanas are a common occurrence in South Florida during wintry weather. The reptile, which isn't native to the area, are cold-blooded, which means they become sluggish, and in many cases, dormant in colder weather. If the weather changes while they're sleeping in trees, they lose their grip and fall out. Iguanas in Florida have learned to adapt to the cold weather in recent years, though. While many are still incapacitated when the temperatures drop, there are "not nearly as many as we had when the initial iguanas were here — when they first started showing up and we had the big cold fronts," nationally known animal expert Ron Magill of Zoo Miami told Patch in January. He added, "The thing is now — as each year goes by — these iguanas learn to burrow themselves during the cold. The ones that have not learned that are the ones that die. Then they don't pass that gene on to the next generation." The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said male iguanas can grow to 5 feet in length and weigh up to 17 pounds. Here are some additional Christmas 2020 stories: Christmas Weekend 2020 Mall Hours In MiamiChans The Pig Pardoned In Miami, Has Second Chance At LifeHow To Have A Very Merry And Safe Christmas In FloridaVideo Shows Miami Police Delivering Surprise Bike To 11-Year-OldRestaurants Open On Christmas 2020 In MiamiHoliday Curfews Extended For Miami-Dade County ResidentsAs Puppy Scams Peak, Adopt A Pet Instead At A Shelter Near MiamiFlorida's Santas, Mrs. Clauses Adapt In The Era Of CoronavirusWhat's Open, Closed In Miami-Dade County Christmas Weekend 2020Publix, Walmart: Christmas 2020 Grocery Store Hours In MiamiChristmas Bird Count: How To Find An Active Circle Near MiamiSee The Risk Of Coronavirus Exposure Indoors In Miami-Dade County