MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - It’s cold. At least it is for South Florida, and Floridians are doing their best to stay warm.
On Lincoln Road, people bundled up in sweaters and coats, and restaurants turned on their heaters as people dined outside, Thursday night.
Tourists also voiced their disappointment at the drop in degrees.
“It’s kind of cold. I was expecting it to be a little bit warmer,” said Angela Bulgario, who’s visiting from Ohio.
“We were kind of expecting to, you know, lay out and do the warm thing, but luckily we have some jackets with us,” said Kevin Dowling, who’s visiting from Atlanta.
“It’s not normal, definitely,” said Saanya Dham. “I wanted to go in the pool, but looking at the weather, I just want to stay inside.”
However, despite the drop in temperatures, South Florida’s beaches still manages to see some visitors.
“It’s kind of cold, but it’s like a beautiful day. Yeah, it’s nice,” said beachgoer Kathleen Fernandez.
Surfers enjoyed the waves on Miami Beach.
“It’s pretty cool,” said surfer Carolina Brown. “Actually, we hope for this kind of weather – when it’s cold, you know, and after a storm – because on the East Coast – there’s not much surfing.”
As locals look past the shorts and tank tops in their closets for their winter coats, certain organizations are making sure furry friends up for adoption are also cozy and warm.
“Typically, if it’s a short-haired pet, we recommend you put a little sweater on it,” said Lisa Mendheim of Broward County Animal Care. “If we’re chilly, so’s your dog and cat, and it’s real important. They’re not used to the cold weather. Neither are we, so it’s important that you bring your pets in.”
Puppies at Broward County Animal Care are cozy and warm wearing their sweaters.
It’s so cold outside that iguanas have been falling from trees. However, they regain consciousness after a little sun.
“There’s actually a chill warning for Broward County in South Florida for the next three days,” said Mendheim.
The warning has sent other organizations like the Salvation Army and Homeless Voice on a mission to collect and pass out blankets to keep those on the streets a bit more comfortable.
“We’ll go to a sick shelter or the county shelter. We’ll hit them with blankets and give them three hot meals with MREs and just make sure they’re warm,” said Sean Cononie of the Homeless Voice.
Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue said that this is also a time to be cautious in regards to staying warm. They said if you plan on using a space heater, only turn it on while you are awake. Turn it off when you sleep to avoid causing a potential fire and use extra blankets.
“We do get a lot of calls for fires during the colder weather months,” said BSFR Battalion Chief Michael Kane. “We want to make sure that when residents use space heaters, they use them safely. We want to make sure they keep them away from anything that’s combustible — that is carpeting, drapery or clothing.”
Officials also said space heaters should also be plugged directly into the wall instead of extension cords.
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