Clearwater Gazette and Beach Views

Cold temperature can do more than make you reach for a coat - it can cause major economic problems. How bad? A deep freeze hit northern and central Florida on Dec. 26, 1983, causing more than $2 billion in damages. As a result, the state's citrus production moved further south to avoid future cold weather.
Why does the arrival of a cold front typically mean heavy rain and thunderstorms? Since cold air is denser, it pushes into Florida close to the ground. Warm air ahead of the cold front can push the warm air very high into the atmosphere, creating thunderstorms and heavy weather.