Temperatures will lower to around 30 degrees Wednesday night in Southwest Florida. It's the second time cold weather has prompted local shelters to open in 2018, so far.
Florida Public Radio Meteorologist Jeff Huffman said ice and snow is falling in the panhandle, also for the second time this month.
"Most of the frozen precipitation this time will stay west of Tallahassee and be fairly light," he said. "But the cold won't miss anyone though. It will engulf the entire state by Wednesday night, with a freeze possible down to the I-4 corridor and wind chills in the 30s as far south as Naples to West Palm Beach."
Huffman doesn't think this cold blast will last as long as the one earlier this month. And he said a notable warm up will begin this weekend.
Below are cold weather shelters open in Southwest Florida:
Lee County
Lee Emergency Management said this on Facebook Wednesday: "The Salvation Army will expand its sheltering capacity Wednesday night into Thursday morning for those needing shelter from the cold weather. Registration begins at 7 p.m. The Salvation Army is located at 2476 Edison Ave., Fort Myers."
Collier County
Collier officials said in a press release Wednesday, "The American Red Cross and Collier County Parks and Recreation will staff a warming center in the Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. First Street, Immokalee, Florida 34142, Wednesday, Jan. 17 beginning at 9 p.m. The warming center will close at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18."
Charlotte County
Charlotte County officials said in a press release Wednesday, "The Homeless Coalition and the American Red Cross, Charlotte County will be opening a cold weather shelter tonight (Wednesday night) at 1476 Kensaw Street, Port Charlotte. The shelter will open at 6:30 pm and close at 8:00 am Thursday morning."
Sarasota County
Sarasota officials said on the county website, "The Salvation Army will conduct its normal cold weather operation plan Wednesday and Thursday, which includes the front porch opening at 4 p.m., with intake expected to begin at 6:30 p.m.; the front porch will re-open at 4:30 a.m. and remain open until 5 a.m., when the welcome center opens."
In North County: Salvation Army - Center of Hope, 1400 10th St. And in South County: New Hope Community Church, 5600 S. Biscayne Dr., North Port, will open at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Also, Grace United Methodist Church, 400 E. Field Ave., Venice, will open 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Hendry County
Hendry officials said in a press release two shelters will open Wednesday at 6 pm. The release said, "Those seeking shelter must be in place by 12 am or the facility will close and volunteers will be released."
In LaBelle, the United Way House will open located at 133 N. Bridge Street. And in Clewiston, the Janet B. Taylor Auditorium will open, as well, located at 1100 S. Olympia Street.
