Will it snow in Florida? Winter storm warning issued for northern counties
TAMPA (FOX 13) - Florida has seen its share of weather warnings over the last year – hurricanes, tornados, floods, and more. But now, parts of the Sunshine State are under a rare winter storm warning.
The National Weather Service’s Tallahassee bureau issued the advisory – their first in almost four years – this afternoon, warning that snow and ice, including the ever-popular “wintry mix,” are possible across southern Georgia and even parts of northern Florida overnight.
“Cold temperatures will remain as a low develops off the Atlantic Coast of Florida,” the NWS forecast said. “With below-freezing temperatures at the surface and a layer above freezing aloft, a wintry mix of precipitation is expected. Freezing rain, sleet, and/or snow will develop after midnight tonight through Wednesday morning.”
Forecasters expect snow accumulations from 1 to 1½ inches in south-central Georgia. Florida’s Big Bend region, from Tallahassee to Perry to Lake City, could get anywhere from a half-inch to an inch of the white stuff by midday Wednesday.
In case any Floridians aren’t familiar with the details of a winter storm warning, the National Weather Service stated what would be obvious to any Yankee.
“A winter storm warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet and ice are expected. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible,” the alert warned. “Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the morning commute on Wednesday.”
As a precaution, the main campus of Florida State university planned to be closed on Wednesday.
Further south, no snow is expected in Central Florida, but temperatures are expected to remain well below normal, dipping below freezing in the northern Bay Area.
And if anyone in Central Florida is thinking about hitting the road to experience the wintry mix firsthand, FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto echoed the National Weather Service’s words of caution.
“If you are in the mood to drive up to check out the winter weather, BE CAREFUL! Freezing rain is no fun to drive in,” he wrote. “There may be a bit of freezing rain, sleet, or snow grains in Levy and perhaps Citrus County very early Wednesday morning.”