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

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.

The strange reptilian phenomenon can happen during cold weather, and the National Weather Service warned Florida residents about it.

The center said that most of the state will remain mostly clear and frigid tonight with the chance for scattered to isolated falling iguanas from trees.

iguanas are usually alive when this happens. The lizards, which are cold-blooded, become inactive to protect themselves from the cold. They can fall from trees if they lose their grip on the branches.

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

There are freeze watches and warnings in effect.

Thousands of flights were canceled and several governors declared a state of emergency because of the storm.