Baby, it's cold outside

Brace yourself for colder weather. A cold front blowing through the East Coast is responsible for freezing temperatures in the interior parts of Hillsborough County and north.

Most places in the Tampa Bay area were near 30 degrees overnight, said Todd Barron, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Spots closer to the coast, like Pinellas County, experienced about 40 degrees, he said.

Farther north, in Brooksville, it was 26 degrees at 7 a.m. "They're having a pretty good freeze right now," Barron said. Along U.S. 41, frost could be seen blanketing an open field (pictured). The National Weather Service had issued overnight freeze warnings for Citrus and Hernando that expired at 8 a.m.

Today's high temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 60s.

Bay area temperatures are not likely to dip below the mid 30s or 40s tonight, Barron said. Tomorrow will be warmer.

For now, "dress in layers. Bundle up," he said. "I think we're getting the hang of the routine now."

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer; photo by Will Vragovic of the Times staff

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