Cold Weather

With inland temperatures projected to drop to 40 degrees or lower for an extended period in Southwest Florida, Lee and Charlotte counties made plans Tuesday afternoon to provide cold weather outreach and shelter access.

Lee County Government is coordinating with its partnering entities this weekend to activate its Cold Weather Outreach Plan.Severe Weather Outreach Teams are mobilized to specific locations when inland temperatures are projected to drop to 40 degrees or lower for an extended period. Charlotte and Sarasota also plan shelter activity.

Freeze alerts are already in effect for the Panhandle and North Florida as temperatures are expected to drop to the lowest they've been in over a year.

Residents of the Panhandle woke up to an uncommon sight on Tuesday morning: Snow flurries and freezing rain. The conditions were brought on by the passage of a strong cold front through the Mississippi Valley and the Southeast.

Sub freezing lows are forecasted for the Panhandle and North Florida on Wednesday morning. Wind chills in the 30s are expected as far south as Tampa and Orlando.

Temperatures likely in the 40s with wind chills to the 30s prompted a cold weather shelter to open in Charlotte County.

The Florida Department of Health in Collier County is reminding residents and visitors to stay safe this winter by taking precautions during cold weather and in Lee County two warming stations were opened due to the colder temperatures.

A Wind Chill Advisory has already been issued for portions of Central and Southern Florida

Another cold front is expected to arrive to the Sunshine State on Thursday. Strong thunderstorms could cause damage across the Panhandle, then on Friday a cold airmass should engulf most of the state.

Storm-battered Buffalo braced Tuesday for fresh snow while still striving to recover from an epic blizzard that killed at least 28 people, stranded others in cars for days and shuttered the city’s airport.