Cape Coral beachgoers embrace chilly weather as cold front hits Southwest Florida

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

In Cape Coral, beachgoers are determined to enjoy the sun despite facing the coldest New Year's Eve in 25 years, with temperatures expected to drop to the low 30s.

"We love the beach," said Glenna and Mira Johnson, who are among the many visitors from states like New York, Missouri, Vermont, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

Glenna added, "Yeah, it's cold, but it's really fun. And you can, like, go in the water that's cold, but it's really gonna be fun."

Melissa White-Hatcher, vacationing from Indianapolis, where it's about 11 degrees with snow on the ground, isn't complaining about the Florida chill.

"So we're going to soak up every bit of the sun we can," she said.

While a wind chill may keep people out of the water, it hopefully won't deter them from enjoying New Year's Eve fireworks.

However, Gulf Coast meteorologist Lauren Hope cautioned that the cold fronts, while bringing low humidity, also increase fire danger.

"And unfortunately, these cold fronts, we love them. It feels fantastic. Finally, there is low humidity, but it brings in all the ingredients for fire danger," she said.

As the cold weather sets in, residents are reminded to check their tire pressure, as the cold can cause tires to deflate, and to be prepared for a smell when turning on the heat for the first time.

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