TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — In what seems like a once-in-a-lifetime event, some parts of Florida are preparing for winter weather. The real kind.
With freezing temperatures and a possible snowy forecast this upcoming week in Northwest Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation is pulling out all the stops to prepare.
"A strong push of cold air is on the way for the Sunshine State, including Tampa Bay," Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Eric Stone said.
After a cold front pushes through, temperatures drop with lows in the upper 30s to mid-40s every morning through next Saturday. Highs will only rise into the 50s all week long.
Eric Stone said that North Florida will be so cold by Tuesday night and Wednesday morning that snow is in the forecast along I-10 from Pensacola to east of Lake City. The rain/snow line will be well north of the Bay Area, so it's likely to only see rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Over the weekend, crews are preparing bridge deck sprayers, snow plows, and other equipment to keep the state's highway system safe and operational, FDOT announced.
In Panama City, the government released a statement on Saturday about "dangerously cold conditions" arriving Monday, followed by potential snowfall on Tuesday and Wednesday. The area expects overnight lows to be below-freezing, even dipping into the teens.
Cities that may experience these wintry conditions are working on insulating exposed pipes, and backflow preventers, as well as attending to the wastewater treatment plans.
The National Weather Service predicts that cities in North Florida, including Panama City, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, will likely experience freezing rain as a winter storm moves into the Deep South.
Freeze warnings are expected, while accumulating ice and potential snow may cause hazardous travel and widespread disruptions.