The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office blocks the Hart Bridge on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
Published on January 22, 2025 at 12:32 pm
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Driving remained dangerous in Northeast Florida early Wednesday afternoon after residents awoke to freezing temperatures and, in some places, a rare dusting of snow.
Icy roads forced safety officials to close the Hart, Matthews and Main Street bridges Wednesday morning, but all three were reopened before noon.
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Still, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville predicted icy roads throughout the day and wind chills in the 20s Wednesday night. A freeze warning was in effect overnight.
Jacksonville city officials cautioned that “the safest place continues to be at home.” Residents were urged to stay off the roads all day.
Clay County officials warned that standing water from Wednesday’s wintery mix could refreeze if it did not evaporate.
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Jacksonville International Airport planned to reopen at noon, but travelers were advised to check with their airlines.
Jacksonville said the warming center at the Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, would remain open through 9 a.m. Thursday. Then it will be open from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. through Friday.
All city of Jacksonville libraries and community centers will be open as warming centers during regular business hours Thursday through Saturday.
Go to JaxReady.com/StayWarmJax for locations and what to bring to a shelter.
Freeze forecast
The front that brought bitter cold, sleet and snow flurries to Northeast Florida dumped record snow in the Panhandle. The 8 inches in Pensacola smashed the previous record of 3 inches.
The front moved through Northeast Florida on Wednesday morning, but freezing temperatures were expected to persist into the afternoon.
Wednesday night, the National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the upper 20s to low 30s along and west of the St Johns River and upper 30s to low 40s from St Augustine southward.
Winds were forecast at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Florida.
