Florida Could Get Snow This Week: Local Shelters Open To Combat Cold Temps
Bet you didn’t have snow in Florida on your 2025 bingo card. Hurricane, maybe… but SNOW? A rare cold snap threatens north Florida with up to 4 inches of snow and ice from Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency as the storm moves in.
Weather experts put out winter storm warnings across Florida’s Panhandle and into southeast Georgia. The storm could break records – beating the state’s biggest snowfall from 1954 when Milton got hit with 4 inches of snow.
“Snow is one thing. Ice is a problem,” said FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg to FOX 13 News. He warned that a half-inch ice layer in Tallahassee and Jacksonville would cause serious problems.
The system will bring freezing rain to Southeast Georgia by Tuesday afternoon. After midnight, it moves into Northeast Florida. Ice could knock down power lines and break tree branches across affected areas.
A Winter Weather Advisory kicks in from 1 a.m. until 10 a.m. Wednesday for Marion and St. Johns counties. The mix of winter weather might reach as far south as Gainesville. Warm ocean breezes should protect coastal areas near the St. Johns River from ice. Tampa Bay will get soaked with cold rain from Tuesday into Wednesday morning.
Seven shelters opened Monday in Pinellas County as temperatures dropped. They’ll open again Tuesday at 6 p.m., staying open through the night when temperatures fall to 40 degrees.
Anyone who needs a ride can take a Pinellas Suncoast Transit bus for free starting at 5 p.m. Just tell the driver you’re heading to a shelter. When forecasts show “feels like” temperatures reaching 40 degrees or below between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., the shelters open up. Locations run from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg, with spots in Clearwater and Pinellas Park.
People can get a warm place to sleep, and most places offer food. Based on the forecast, the shelters won’t be open Wednesday night.
By the end of the weekend, Tampa heats up to the 60s – just in time for Saturday’s Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Sunday brings back typical Florida weather as temperatures reach the 70s.