National Weather Service warns Florida residents may see frozen iguanas falling from trees as cold weather slams the East Coast

Tim Chapman/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Freeze watches and warnings are in effect for much of the Florida peninsula Saturday night.

The National Weather Service warns there could be "falling iguanas from trees" due to inclement weather.

This phenomenon happens when the lizards become temporary paralyzed from subfreezing temperatures.

While much of the East Coast will be slammed by heavy snowfall and hurricane-force winds this weekend, Floridians may have to dodge an unexpected item falling from the sky — frozen iguanas dropping from trees.

The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center issued a warning that Florida residents may stumble upon the strange reptilian phenomenon this weekend, which can happen during cold conditions.

"Much of the state will remain mostly clear and frigid tonight with the chance for scattered to isolated falling iguanas from trees," the center said on Saturday.

According to animal experts, iguanas are usually not dead when this happens. Instead, the lizards, which are cold-blooded, become dormant to protect themselves against plunging temperatures. Their joints become stiff, so they may lose their grip on branches, which can cause them to fall from trees.

Experts also said anyone who comes across a frozen iguana should leave it alone, as the creatures occasionally bite people while coming out of their frozen paralysis.

Freeze watches and warnings are in effect in much of the Florida peninsula Saturday night.

The storm marks the East Coast's first major blizzard in four years, leading to thousands of canceled flights and several governors declaring a state of emergency.

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