Northeast Florida battens down for rare blast of winter

Freezing rain and ice will coat Northeast Florida overnight Tuesday as a rare winter storm blasts the area and makes travel exceedingly treacherous.

Jacksonville city officials urged residents to stay off the roads Tuesday night through noon Wednesday. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said roads or bridges will be closed if necessary.

Jacksonville International Airport will shut down after the last flight out Tuesday night. Flights are expected to resume after temperatures rise around noon Wednesday.

Schools will close Wednesday in Baker, Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. St. Johns County schools intend to remain open.

All athletics and after-school activities for Duval Schools will be canceled Wednesday.

These offices also announced closures Wednesday:

• All offices and substations of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
• The Duval County Courthouse and Clerk of Courts offices.
• The State Attorney’s Office for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, except for first appearances.
• The Property Appraiser’s and Tax Collector’s offices.
• Duval County’s landfill. (Trash pickups scheduled for Wednesday will be rescheduled for Saturday.)
• Clay County’s landfill. (Trash pickups scheduled for Wednesday will be moved to Thursday. Thursday’s routes will be picked up Friday.)
• All Jacksonville City Council committee meetings (postponed until Thursday).
• University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville, including online classes.
• Edward Waters University (transitioning to virtual operations).

The forecast

Colder temperatures will arrive late Tuesday as a strong arctic system pushes into the area, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. Subfreezing temperatures are expected south of Interstate 10 into north-central Florida and eastward to the coast down to St. Augustine.

Rain will change over to freezing rain overnight in areas south of I-10 such as Gainesville and east to the Jacksonville beaches, the Weather Service says.

“Freezing rain is expected as far south as Ocala and as far east as St. Augustine before temperatures can rise above freezing by mid to late morning Wednesday,” the forecast says.

A winter storm warning has been expanded to include all of Downtown Jacksonville east to the Jax beaches and into coastal Nassau County. Forecasters predict mixed precipitation and ice accumulations of a 0.1 inch to a half-inch of sleet and snow mix.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday morning that the Panhandle could see up to 6 inches of snow over the next 24 hours.

Low temperatures are expected to fall to the upper 20s in Northeast Florida as far south as St. Augustine and Palatka, the Weather Service says. Brisk northerly winds of 10 to 20 mph are expected with gusts to 35 mph.

The winds will produce wind chills in the low to mid 20s over all of Northeast Florida in the early morning Wednesday, the Weather Service said.

Winter preparations

The city of Jacksonville is opening additional warming centers Tuesday night. The following locations will be open from 9 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday:

• West Branch Library, 1425 Chaffee Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32221
• Cecil Gym and Fitness Center, 13531 Lake Newman Street, Jacksonville, FL 32221
• Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32208

The Putnam County Caring Coalition will open a cold weather shelter at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Westminster Hall, across from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Palatka.

The center will stay open from 7 each night until 7 the next morning, tonight through Friday, as the forecast predicts temperatures at or near freezing.

The Florida Department of Transportation on Tuesday was appying anti-icing spray on bridges and overpasses on Interstates 10, 95 and 75. The department also was increasing staffing for the storm.

FDOT warned drivers to use caution by reducing speeds, increasing following distances and eliminating distractions.

Drivers can stay informed through FDOT’s FL511 system for real-time updates from its Road Rangers. patrol local interstates to help drivers. Motorists can dial *347 for assistance.

Tips from JEA

JEA offered these tips for below-freezing temperatures:

• Drip outside faucets in a steady stream to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Let water drip slowly from inside faucets, both hot and cold.
• Wrap any exposed pipes and backflow preventers located outside or in unheated areas.
• If a washing machine is in an unheated room such as a garage, disconnect both the hot and cold water lines. Place both in the drain pipe behind the washing machine. Drip both faucets at a steady stream.
• Know the locations of water shutoff valves and sewer clean-outs.
• See video on protecting pipes in a freeze.

JEA had these heat-related suggestions:

• Increase the temperature by one degree at a time when adjusting your thermostat. Rapid swings in thermostat settings could turn on your system’s auxiliary heating or heat strips, which can be costly to run.  Watch this video to learn more.
• Consider using space heaters in occupied spaces while turning down the thermostat to avoid the costs of heating your entire home. Keep safety in mind: Never leave a space heater unattended, on while sleeping or close to flammable items. Make sure the space heater has “tip over protection.” Watch video on space heater safety.
• Consider wearing additional clothing such a comfortable sweater for added insulation when you turn the thermostat cooler.

Visit JaxReady.com/StayWarmJax for more tips.