Prepare for Freezing Temperatures

Practice the 4 Ps of Cold Weather Safety All Winter

January 26, 2026

A strong arctic front will impact the region this week, bringing some of the coldest temperatures of the winter thus far. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued an extreme cold warning and a freeze warning for tonight, Jan. 26. The City of Tallahassee urges residents to take precautions to protect pipes, people, pets and plants.

Frigid air can cause water pipes to break. Use these tips to reduce your risk.

• Insulate your backflow assembly by properly by wrapping or covering the pipe. Do not cover the bottom relief opening on the underside at the middle of the apparatus to avoid creating other flooding problems.
• Run at least one faucet in your home or business at a thin stream.
• Insulate pipes located outside or in the attic with cloth or a similar material to help prevent freezing.
• Make sure the cover to your water meter fits tightly. If your pipes do freeze, you can use the valve inside the meter box to shut off all the water to the house, helping to prevent indoor flooding when pipes thaw.
• Wrap commercial fire lines in buildings.
• Disconnect outside water hoses from spigots, as water trapped inside can freeze and crack the hose.

During freezing temperatures, citizens might see water trickling out of spigots in area parks and public spaces. This is part of the City's cold-weather plan to prevent or minimize issues caused by the cold. Please do not turn it off. This is intentional.

Below is additional winter safety guidance.

People

• Limit time outdoors. When outside, cover exposed skin and dress in layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than one bulky sweater.
• Practice fire safety
  • Make sure all combustible materials, such as drapes or chairs, are at least three feet away from any heating unit.
  • Avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces and do not leave a fireplace unattended. Once the fire is out, let the ashes cool in the fireplace for several days.
  • Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they work properly.
• Check on neighbors and family members who may be more susceptible to cold weather conditions, such as the elderly or disabled. If you are unable to reach them, TPD will conduct a welfare check for you. Simply call the Consolidated Dispatch Agency at 850-606-5800 to request the service.

Pets

• Bring pets inside or provide dry, warm shelter if your pet must stay outdoors.
• Towel dry your pet's paws after walking on cold, wet grass to avoid chapped paws.
• Never shave your pet down to the skin in winter, as longer coats provide warmth in the cooler air. If your pet has short hair or is sensitive to the cold, consider getting them a coat or sweater to wear when outside.

Plants

• Move interior plants away from poorly insulated or drafty windows.
• Bring potted plants into your garage or shed or insulate the pot with plastic wrap or burlap.
• Add a thin layer of mulch around the base of young trees or shrubs, leaving a few inches of space near the trunk to prevent root rot.
• Cover garden beds or rooted plants with opaque plastic wrap or cardboard boxes, securely anchoring the cover to the ground with rocks or bricks to prevent cool air from sneaking in. Remove the coverings once temperatures begin to rise during the day.

The City of Tallahassee wants to ensure all residents know what to do when the forecast calls for freezing temperatures or other inclement winter weather conditions. Visit Talgov.com/ColdWeather for more information. Customers can call 850-891-4968 for utility service needs or report service issues via the City's free DigiTally app.

Stay weather aware with information from the National Weather Service at Weather.gov/tae or X.com/NWSTallahassee.