MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - People across South Florida are bundling up as a cold front sent temperatures plummeting into the 40s, leading Broward County officials to declare a one-day cold weather emergency and causing iguanas to drop from trees.
The heaters were lit, and the jackets were on along Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, Saturday night, as residents and visitors got a taste of winter weather.
“It’s a nice change, yes,” said a woman wearing a red jacket.
Scarves, beenies and puffy jackets are not typical attire for South Florida, but during this cold Christmas weekend, they’ve become a must for many.
“I get to take out this jacket about once a year, so that’s what I’m excited about,” Fort Lauderdale resident Julie Matos said.
Friday was the coldest Christmas Eve seen in more than 20 years, and some on Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard said it just adds to the holiday.
“It’s amazing. It feels like actual Christmas,” Fort Lauderdale resident Marissa Friedman said.
“It’s nice. It’s just nice to get out and experience,” Fort Lauderdale resident Daniel Goodman said.
Those walking around Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood shared similar sentiments.
“The only ones that will be upset are the tourists,” Miami resident Howard Roan said.
But along Ocean Drive, visitors from a more frigid part of the country did not mind the dip in degrees.
“It doesn’t feel too bad, since we’re from Missouri, and it’s like 12 degrees there, so we’re feeling great,” said one of the tourists.
The cold snap caused temperatures to drop into the mid-40s, Saturday morning, the coldest recorded this season.
Due to the low temperatures, Broward County officials declared a one-day cold weather emergency.
The Salvation Army helped the homeless find a safe and warm place to spend the night.
“The shelter is opening for people experiencing homelessness, so they can be out of the elements,” Salvation Army spokesperson Lilly Gallardo said.
While the area did not get snowfall this Christmas, some people did see falling iguanas.
A photo sent to 7News by Ricardo Rincon in Southwest Miami-Dade showed an iguana becoming immobile because of coldest Christmas South Florida has seen in over 20 years.
With a strange and difficult year coming to an end, some people are trying to stay positive on Christmas and looking forward to the new year.
“Can’t complain with palm trees and a blue sky,” said the woman in the red jacket.
About 30 people spent the night at the Salvation Army, but the organization is helping people find shelter throughout the area.
Temperatures are forecast to start rising again by mid-week.
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