A winter storm warning is in effect for parts of Florida, with up to 4 inches of snow expected from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. This rare winter weather is causing freezing temperatures, and there could be snow, ice, sleet, and freezing rain in the state.
In response to the storm, many schools and universities are closing early. The following K-12 school districts will be closed on Wednesday, January 22:
- Bay County Schools
- Calhoun County Schools
- Columbia County Schools
- Dixie County Schools
- Escambia County Schools
- Florida A&M University DRS
- Franklin County Schools
- Gadsden County Schools
- Gilchrist County Schools
- Gulf County Schools
- Hamilton County Schools
- Holmes County Schools
- Jackson County Schools
- Jefferson County Schools
- Lafayette County Schools
- Liberty County Schools
- Leon County Schools
- Levy County Schools
- Madison County Schools
- Okaloosa County Schools
- Santa Rosa County Schools
- Suwannee County Schools
- Taylor County Schools
- Wakulla County Schools
- Walton County Schools
- Washington County Schools
Several colleges and universities are also closing, including:
- Florida A&M University
- Florida State University
- University of Florida
- University of West Florida
- Chipola College
- Florida Gateway College
- Gulf Coast State College
- North Florida College
- Northwest Florida State College
- Pensacola State College
- Tallahassee State College
In light of the storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for the state. This gives him and the Department of Emergency Management access to additional resources and funding to handle the emergency.
Will it snow in Florida? A storm in the Gulf of Mexico is pushing eastward and colliding with Arctic air, causing snow in the Florida Panhandle. The storm will likely affect areas from the Panhandle to around Jacksonville. Areas farther east will see less snow and more sleet and freezing rain, which will decrease snowfall.
How much snow will fall in Florida? The heaviest snow will likely fall in the western Florida Panhandle, with some areas getting up to 8 inches, which could cause travel problems. Northern Florida is expected to get 1 to 2 inches of snow, with some mixing that may turn the snow into freezing rain and sleet.
