Okaloosa County residents should prepare for below-freezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills Monday night as a freeze watch takes effect at 6 p.m. Monday through 8 a.m. Tuesday.
- Low temperatures will range from the low to mid-20s north of Interstate 10 and upper 20s to low 30s south of I-10, according to Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox. The entire area is expected to reach or drop below freezing.
Dangerous wind chills of 20 to 25 degrees will also be possible.
“Nearly 90 to 100% probabilities of dropping below 32 degrees area wide,” Maddox said in an email. “Only locations within a mile or so of the immediate coastline might not reach freezing.”
Numerous record daily low temperatures and record daily low high temperatures will be broken.
Dangerous fire conditions will be possible Monday afternoon given ongoing drought, gusty winds and dry air. Red flag warning conditions are expected mainly east of Interstate 65. Occasional gale force wind gusts will be possible across Gulf waters 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore.
Several cold weather shelters will open Monday night.
In south county, Generations Church at 108 FL-85 in Niceville will open Monday night with check-in from 7 to 8 p.m. The shelter is open for families with children and elderly. Call 850-678-2531.
One Hopeful Place at 1564 Percy L. Coleman Road in Fort Walton Beach is not open at this time. Transportation pick-up is available at Generations Church in Niceville around 7 p.m. for dinner with the van leaving around 8 p.m. and returning at 6:30 a.m. Call 850-586-7879.
In north county, Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless at 120 Duggan Ave. in Crestview will open Sunday night, Monday night and Tuesday night beginning at 6 p.m. Call 850-398-5670.
