Florida experienced record low temperatures last weekend as a new cold front swept across the southern US. Temperatures in Orlando plunged to -4°C, the lowest recorded February temperature in over a century.
Typically, during this time of year, Orlando's temperatures range from 12°C at night to 23°C during the day.
WPLG 10 in Miami reported an "iguana shower" on 1/2, as many iguanas stiffened from the cold, losing their ability to move and simultaneously falling from trees.
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Frozen iguanas falling onto a residential property in Miami, Florida, 1/2. Photo: AP |
Frozen iguanas falling onto a residential property in Miami, Florida, 1/2. Photo: AP
Images shared on social media showed the iguanas lying motionless on sidewalks.
Iguanas can revive if temperatures warm quickly. However, Jessica Kilgore, head of Iguana Solutions, a service specializing in capturing and managing invasive species, told media outlets that her company collected hundreds of kilograms of iguanas, both live and dead, during this cold spell.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an emergency order permitting residents to transport frozen iguanas to the commission's facilities for rescue. Florida residents are not allowed to keep or transport iguanas without a license.
Other southern US states, including the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, experienced heavy snowfall and strong winds. Some areas saw nearly 50 cm of snow, causing traffic disruptions. North Carolina reported 1,000 accidents over the weekend, resulting in two fatalities, prompting officials to urge residents to limit travel.
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Frozen iguanas falling from trees in Miami, Florida, 1/2. Photo: AFP |
Frozen iguanas falling from trees in Miami, Florida, 1/2. Photo: AFP
High winds and rising tides submerged the highway through the Outer Banks in North Carolina with ocean waves. Over 800 flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport were canceled on 1/2.
This unusual cold snap occurred as many areas across the US were still struggling to clear snow from a super winter storm that swept the nation last week, claiming over 100 lives.
As of 1/2, approximately 158,000 households remained without power, primarily in the South. Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Louisiana were the most severely affected states.
By Duc Trung (AFP, AP, USA Today)
