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Central Florida awakes to coldest morning in 7 years

ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida residents awoke Thursday morning to the coldest temperatures in seven years, Channel 9 certified meteorologist Brian Shields said.

Temperatures throughout the region plummeted to the 20s and 30s, and a wind chill advisory made conditions seem colder, Shields said. Click here for an hour-by-hour forecast.

Read: Central Florida shelters open amid frigid temperatures

"Wind chills are in the teens and 20s," he said. "If you must spend time outdoors this morning, please dress in layers. Limit time outdoors, if you can."

Thursday's high temperatures will climb to the low to middle 50s, which is about 20 degrees below average. Temperatures will fall to the 30s late Thursday.

"Fortunately, it won’t be as breezy, so it won’t feel as cold," Shields said. "But still protect the plants and bring in the pets."

Parts of Central Florida are expected to experience frost and freeze conditions Thursday, but temperatures will reach the 70s by the weekend.

See the extra measures school districts take to keep students warm:

Email photos of the frigid weather to news@wftv.com or post them using #StormAlert9.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for Shields' updated forecast.