Residents across the Sunshine State rang in 2026 bundled in parkas rather than flip-flops, as a potent Arctic front delivered historic lows and a classic Florida weather phenomenon: iguanas falling from the sky.
The sharp cold snap, which brought the coldest New Year’s Eve temperatures Southwest Florida has seen in nearly 25 years, stunned the local wildlife. As the mercury plummeted, invasive green iguanas across the southern peninsula entered a state of temporary paralysis, losing their grip on tree branches and tumbling to the ground below.
Reports of the “iguana rain” popped up from the Gulf Coast to Miami. In Fort Myers, where temperatures dipped to a chilly 39 degrees, Meteorologist Matt Devitt posted an image of a bright green iguana sprawled motionless on the grass.
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“WE HAVE FALLING IGUANAS!” Devitt posted, quickly assuring followers that the reptile “is not dead, just cold stunned.”
In Miami, Meteorologist Dylan Federico shared viewer footage of another rigid iguana draped limply over a railing during the overnight freeze.
The Science of the Fall
The spectacle is a direct result of the iguana’s biology. As ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, they rely on ambient heat to regulate their body temperature. They thrive in Florida’s humidity, but once the air drops below 50 degrees, they become sluggish.
When temperatures hit the 40s—and especially the 30s—their metabolism slows to a halt to preserve energy. Their muscles stiffen and lock up, causing them to fall from their treetop perches, sometimes from heights of several stories.
Despite looking lifeless, the condition is rarely fatal. Most of the reptiles recover fully once the sun rises and their body temperature increases.
A Deep Freeze
The lizard-stunning cold was part of a massive front that swept through the state during the final days of 2025, displacing weeks of unseasonable warmth. The chill was severe enough to trigger freeze warnings and the opening of cold-weather shelters from the Panhandle down to the Treasure Coast.
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While Central and North Florida saw lows in the 20s and 30s, even the tropical climate of South Florida wasn’t spared, leading to the widespread immobilization of the invasive reptile population.
Warning: Don’t Play Hero
Wildlife officials have used the event to remind residents to keep their distance. Seeing a frozen animal on the sidewalk can trigger a rescue instinct, but the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) advises against touching it.
Bringing a cold-stunned iguana into a warm house or car is a recipe for chaos. As the animal thaws, it often wakes up terrified and defensive, capable of inflicting injury with sharp teeth, claws, and powerful tails.
Because green iguanas are an invasive species that damages seawalls and landscaping, they are not protected under Florida wildlife laws (though anti-cruelty laws still apply). Relocating them is illegal, meaning the best course of action is to leave them where they land and wait for the sun to do the rest.
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