Florida cold weather brings most manatees this season to FPL Manatee Lagoon

About 160 manatees gathered at Manatee Lagoon on Jan. 29, the largest group seen there this season, drawn to warm water near a Florida Power & Light plant. A strong cold front is expected to bring colder temperatures over the weekend.

Manatees have been gathering at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach as colder weather arrives. The educational center sits beside a Florida Power & Light power plant that releases heated water into the Lake Worth Lagoon, creating a warm pocket that attracts sea cows in winter. On Jan. 29, about 160 manatees were counted at the site, the most seen there this season. The region is facing a strong cold front that forecasters say could bring the coldest air mass of the season. Observed details: - A Manatee Lagoon spokesperson reported about 160 manatees gathered at the site on the morning of Jan. 29. - Manatee Lagoon is an educational center located near an FPL power plant whose warm-water outflow enters the Lake Worth Lagoon. - Florida manatee season runs from Nov. 15 to March 31, and manatees tend to seek warm outflows when water temperatures fall to around 68°F or colder. - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports there are more than 8,000 manatees in Florida waters, and the species remains listed as threatened. - The National Weather Service warned a strong cold front expected around Jan. 31 could bring temperatures into the 30s with wind chills in the 20s on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. Summary: The concentration of manatees at Manatee Lagoon illustrates their reliance on warm-water outflows during cold spells, and the site saw about 160 animals on Jan. 29, the peak so far this season. Officials and observers reported that additional manatees are likely to use the lagoon as a strong cold front moves through and forecasts predict colder air for the area.