Dozens of Florida counties were under winter storm warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) early on Tuesday, as bitter cold and snow was forecast for parts of the South.
Winter storm warnings are issued when "a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent," said the NWS.
Why It Matters
Snow can disrupt travel and create dangerous driving conditions, while winter storms may cause power outages.
Furthermore, freezing temperatures pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups like infants and senior citizens.
What To Know
At time of writing, more than 30 counties in North Florida and the Panhandle were under winter storm warning from the NWS.
These included Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamilton, Columbia, Gilchrist, Alachua, Union, Baker, Bradford, Putnam, Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties.
A forecast from AccuWeather, shared with Newsweek, showed that for much of the Florida Panhandle, around 1-3 inches was expected.
The NWS said up to four inches of snow accumulation is possible in the Northwest regions of the state.
What People Are Saying
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on X yesterday: "Dangerously cold temperatures are being felt across North Florida this week, with possibilities of snow and black ice.
"At my direction, @FLSERT is monitoring this system closely, and @MyFDOT is on standby with snow plows and other equipment for road and bridge safety needs.
"Please stay attentive to weather conditions and safety alerts from local and state officials. Also, please be careful in icy conditions, especially on the roadways."
NWS Jacksonville said on X: "Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Warning for all of SE, GA and a portion of interior NE, FL. Reminder that forecast values can and will change as the system comes into better focus of the next 18 to 24 hrs."
Meteorologist Ryan Maue said on X: "Folks in Pensacola Beach, Florida, will be running their snow blowers later on Tuesday as heavy snow drifts across their driveways. 4"-6" locally more."
What Happens Next
The NWS previously said it expects that hazardous cold weather would likely persist along the Gulf Coast and across the Southeast U.S. for much of the week.
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