Arctic Blast: Iguanas Raining Down In Florida Thanks To Record-Breaking Temperatures

Frozen iguanas were spotted Tuesday throughout Florida as an arctic blast rolled across the eastern United States, breaking numerous records for low temperatures in the Sunshine State.

Known as “cold-stunning,” the phenomenon takes place when temperatures dip into the 40s, resulting in cold-blooded animals such as iguanas losing muscle control.

As the cold sent a shock to reptiles, and humans for that matter, iguanas were reported falling out of trees Tuesday morning throughout Florida. (RELATED: Four Fiery Tornadoes Sparked Up By Volcanic Eruption In Wild Video Out Of Hawaii)

The low temperature in South Florida‘s Boca Raton was 48 degrees Tuesday, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Tallahassee, the capital of the state, reached freezing temperatures in the morning hours, coming in lower than multiple major metro areas in the Northeast like New York City and Boston.

One video making the rounds shows an immobile iguana on the ground during the cold morning, while other footage shows a man moving a lethargic and slow iguana beside a tree.

WE HAVE FALLING IGUANAS! 🦎🚨
This big guy just fell out of a tree in Port Charlotte this morning, where it was 38°. It’s not dead, just cold stunned. Only in Florida! @winknews @JimCantore @spann pic.twitter.com/JPz0S5WMgG

— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) November 11, 2025

Iguanas have a reliance on the sun to provide regulation when it comes to their body’s temperature and functions, entering an inactive state that is known as torpor. As temperatures drop, the reptiles aren’t able to grip trees like normal, which results in them falling.

According to the Florida Museum, iguanas shocked by the cold can appear to be dead, however, will regain the ability to move their muscles as the temperatures increase.