ORLANDO, Fla. _ The Orlando area woke up to the coldest temperatures Thursday morning since 2010, according to the National Weather Service.
Orlando's temperatures dropped to 27 degrees. Sanford felt 25-degree weather just before sunrise.
The last time temperatures were that cold were in January 2010, said Kevin Rodriguez, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
"It was pretty cold, but right before sunrise, the winds pretty much died down and allowed the temperatures to drop," Rodriguez said.
Nicole Salomone, 35, said she has been heating her home in Thornton Park with space heaters and bundling up in sweatshirts.
"(This winter) has been brutal," she said. "Yesterday during the day was great, but I want it to be over."
It will warm up during the day before dropping again Thursday night. A freeze watch is in effect Thursday night for Lake and Volusia counties. Meteorologists are monitoring the weather to decide whether to expand the watch to other counties, Rodriguez said.
Matt Wein, 25, of Orlando was headed to Tampa for the day. He said he was keeping warm in his truck with its steering wheel and seat heater.
"Living in Florida, it's kind of nice to get a few days out of the year when it's cold," he said. "Generally speaking, it's kind of hot and muggy, and walking outside feels like getting slapped in the face with a hot rag."
Friday morning will produce temperatures in the low to mid 30s. Saturday will start to warm up, with temperatures in the 70s.
