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Central Florida faces biggest cold snap in two years

CENTRAL FLORIDA,None — Central Florida is facing the coldest weather it has had in over a year.

A cold snap has moved into Central Florida on Monday and many areas can expect freezing temperatures.

According to WFTV meteorologist Tom Monahan, the three-day cold snap will break records before it's over, including on Tuesday, which will be the coldest afternoon Central Florida has had in two years.

The cold temperatures have volunteers at the Coalition for the Homeless working around the clock for the next two nights.

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The organization has declared Monday and Tuesday nights official "cold nights," meaning they will not refuse anyone looking for shelter.

The organization said the building for men only holds up to 375 people, and the family pavilion holds 240 people.

The counseling center will provide additional shelter.

"At least in there you have more people to help collect the body heat that's around to help keep warm," said Richard Curtis, who is homeless.

The coalition is the largest provider of homeless services in Central Florida.

Meanwhile, many Central Florida citrus growers have covered their crops and said they were on high alert (full story).

Workers at Showcase of Citrus, south of Clermont, spent the day making sure the grove's irrigation systems were in perfect working order.

Owner John Arnold said he does not expect a hard freeze, but he said frost could damage trees that are already sprouting blossoms because of an unseasonably warm December.

"We'd like to see some cold weather to slow that down, but not cold enough to impact the trees' ability to set a nice crop in the spring of the year," said Arnold.

Arnold said his crews will ride through the groves until midnight and then again around 3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

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