It's cold out there, but not freezing

Teresa Jones of St. Petersburg warms her hands while waiting for her bus at the PSTA Depot on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg about 7:30 a.m. today. She was on her way to work at her telemarketing job at a debt settlement company "where no one wants to talk to her." She loves the cold weather, she says -- it's better for her asthma. [CHERIE DIEZ | Times]

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Temperatures around the bay area haven't dipped below freezing yet, but that's no reason to leave your jacket at home.

It's 41 degrees in Tampa this morning, 46 in St. Petersburg, 37 in Crystal River, 33 in Floral City, 38 in New Port Richey and 40 in Lutz, according to residents in those areas.

Carl Grooms, of Fancy Farms in Plant City, said his strawberries didn't suffer any damage. He monitored his fields from 3 a.m. to sunrise, but he didn't have to run the overhead irrigation.

“The wind blew all night, so there was no frost," he said.

Today will likely only reach a high of 60 degrees in the bay area, according to Bay News 9.

No record lows were recorded around the area overnight, said Eric Oglesby, a National Weather Center forecaster. The record low for Tampa on this date is 38 degrees, 40 in St. Petersburg and 35 in Brooksville. The coldest part of the state is currently Dixie County, with a temperature of 24 degrees in Cross City.

"For parents that have kids, make sure they're bundled up to wait on the bus," Oglesby said. "And get ready for another cold one tomorrow."

Temperatures tonight will be similar to last night, but probably one to three degrees warmer, said Mike Cantin, another forecaster from the National Weather Service. Cantin said the wind will be lighter, which means less severe chills. There could be a freeze warning in affect in Brooksville and northward, he said, but the coldest it'll get closer to the bay will be the upper 30s.

Still, the threat of frost is stronger for tomorrow, even though temperatures are projected to be higher, said Bay News 9 forecaster Josh Linker. Because there is expected to be more moisture in the air and less wind, morning dew could quickly freeze on plants and crops.

Farmers are well-prepared, Linker said, it's "Regular Joe Homeowner" who should be a little worried about outdoor shrubbery.

"After tomorrow morning, we'll warm up a bit. We're not going to get hot or anything like that, but we won't be flirting, if you will, with record temperatures," Linker said.

Temperatures this weekend will likely be near 70 degrees.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

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Tom Ortolani, 65, of Dunedin takes his morning walk Wednesday on the Dunedin Causeway despite chilly weather. "I was just thinking, 'I can take this,' " he said. "Who says there are no seasons down here? I don't think it is as cold as people expected." [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times]