Five Warm U.S. States Warned About Dropping Temperatures

Winter has been brutal throughout the United States, and not just in the typical areas. Even the Deep South has felt the effects of snow and extreme cold.

Over the next two days, at least five warm weather states are facing plummeting temperatures that will dip below freezing. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Freeze Watch for two states and Cold Weather Advisory for three others.

'Freeze Watch' on for Florida, Georgia

Arctic air brought in record-setting cold throughout Florida over the weekend, and now more frigid conditions are set to hit the Panhandle overnight before spreading further tomorrow.

Additionally, the NWS Jacksonville outpost has issued a Freeze Watch for "portions of northeast and north central Florida and southeast Georgia" beginning Thursday night into Friday morning.

"Appropriate action should be taken to ensure tender vegetation and outdoor pets have adequate protection from the cold temperatures," the alert says. "Young children, the elderly and the homeless are especially vulnerable to the cold. Take measures to protect them."

Meanwhile, inland Citrus and Levy Counties are also under a Freeze Watch for the same timeframe, according to NWS Tampa Bay.

Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi all facing brutal cold

The NWS New Orleans office announced a Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight through 8 a.m. local time Thursday with wind chills as low as 20 degrees in the forecast.

The advisory covers northern St. Tammany, southeast St. Tammany, and southwestern St. Tammany Parishes in Louisiana and northern Hancock, northern Harrison, northern Jackson, southern Hancock, southern Harrison, and southern Jackson Counties in Mississippi.

"A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect tonight at midnight through 8AM Thursday. While temperatures will be in the low 30s, wind chills will drop down below 25 degrees during this period. Remember to protect your 4 P's: People, Pets, Plants, and Pipes! #lawx#mswx," NWS New Orleans tweeted.

During the same time span, the NWS Mobile office in Alabama also issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Mobile Central, and Mobile Coastal Counties, as well as Escambia Coastal, Escambia Inland, Okaloosa Coastal, Okaloosa Inland, Santa Rosa Coastal, and Santa Rosa Inland Counties in Florida.

Wind chills, which could fall as low as 20 degrees, can cause hypothermia with prolonged exposure. For a full list of safety tips for cold weather, visit the Red Cross here.