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DeSantis declares State of Emergency as rare snowfall heads for Northwest Florida

A winter storm system moving across the Gulf will bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to North Florida, with accumulations of up to four inches possible in some areas.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Monday as Florida braces for a rare winter storm that threatens to bring snow, ice and freezing temperatures to the northern part of the state.

  • The western Florida Panhandle is under Winter Storm Warnings, with forecasts predicting snowfall totals of one to three inches. Some locations could see up to four inches during periods of heavy snowfall.

Ice accumulations from freezing rain — considered the most dangerous winter weather hazard — are expected to reach between one-tenth to one-quarter inch from the eastern Panhandle through the Suwannee River Valley. Interior North Florida locations could see even higher ice accumulations.

The winter weather system, formed by an area of low pressure interacting with Arctic air, is expected to create hazardous driving conditions starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday. Officials warn that ice accumulation could significantly impact roadways, bridges, trees and power lines.

The executive order activates the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard as needed. It also authorizes emergency management officials to coordinate response efforts and waive certain regulations to expedite emergency actions.

  • The Department of Transportation may suspend toll collections and close roads as necessary for safe evacuation. The order also allows pharmacists to issue 30-day emergency prescription refills for maintenance medications to residents in affected areas.

Dangerously cold wind chills and prolonged freezing temperatures are forecast to affect North and North-Central Florida over the next several days.

The state of emergency will remain in effect for 60 days unless extended or terminated earlier.

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Community Comments

“While I agree that our Island should have better upkeep, I would task the Tourist Development Council, with this. Eglin doesn’t advertise for tourists that I know of. Eglin does...”
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“Getting on and off the island will be as bad or worse.”
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“All I ask is that if Eglin is going to restrict access (after all these years) and are advertising that the property is Eglin AFB property that they take measures...”
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“Thank you for this article. For once, thought is being given to the Terns. Seems like all I hear is ‘boost tourism’. Our native flora and fauna deserve respect. Again,...”
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“It sounds like the developer is only interested in participating if it serves there monetary interest without regard to Destin leadership or community concerns. Why would the city allow this...”
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“Destin does not need more commercialization. Go to Panama City for that. If it can’t be stopped, please say the new construction will not look like the cheesy towers already...”
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“Whatever the plan turns out to be, it needs to tie into the new Brooks bridge, increase downtown parking and allow for much more pedestrian traffic maybe even closing down...”
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“The current building is an eye sore and looks more like Panama Beaches. Too tall already. Let the citizens vote on it! No!!!”
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“https://www.getthecoast.com/destin-council-seeks-to-close-dangerous-us-highway-98-intersection-after-fatal-crash/ I can only imagine there will be more like this if Destin gets anymore congested.”
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“I honestly wish the citizens of Destin could vote on this debacle. I bet very few if any would agree to this continued commercialization, on a ridiculous level, of what...”
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