Severe Weather and Cold Weather Advisory
ST LUCIE COUNTY (treasurecoast.com)- St. Lucie County’s Public Safety Department urges residents to take precautions with severe storm potential and unusually cold weather impacting our area over the next few nights.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne is anticipating severe storm potential around mid-afternoon until late into the evening on Thursday, Dec. 24. There will be a potential for wind gusts of 50-60 mph, heavy downpours and frequent lightning. Hail and threat of tornado may be possible if storm severity increases.
A strong cold front is forecast on Friday, Dec. 25, through Saturday Dec. 26 with temperatures dropping into the 40s overnight Friday, Dec. 25 and into the 30s Saturday, Dec. 26.
Residents should bring pets inside overnight during these cold evenings. St. Lucie County’s Animal Safety staff reminds residents that it is illegal to leave pets tethered outside unsupervised, regardless of the temperatures.
Additionally, plants in containers can be moved inside or placed close to the house inside porches or garages. Large containers that cannot be moved inside can be clumped together and mulch placed around the container can help protect the roots from extreme cold weather. Mulch can also be used in the landscape to reduce radiant heat loss from the soil and protect roots of plants that are in the ground.
Covering your plants can protect them from frost damage. Cloth sheets, quilts or commercial frost cloth can be used. It is important to try to have the covering touch as little foliage as possible, and have the covering extend all the way to the ground to trap any radiant heat from the soil.
For information about cold weather shelters opening in the area, please call 2-1-1.
