TALLAHASSEE -- A rare winter storm has covered the Pensacola area with snow and is heading east to bring snow and ice to North and Northeast Florida.

Governor DeSantis called a news conference at the Florida Division of Emergency Management to warn North Florida reisdents to stay off the roads Tuesday and Wednesday.

DeSantis and FDEM boss Kevin Guthrie say snow is expected on beaches with a mix of freezing rain moving east along the Interstate 10 corridor through Wednesday morning.

The governor sent home nonessential state workers in Tallahassee and other affected areas at 1 p.m. (Eastern). State offices in those areas will stay closed Wednesday. Florida State University and Florida A&M University have cancelled classes Wednesday.

DeSantis says FDOT has prepared for the storm by preemptively deicing state-controlled bridges. It even has a few snowplows ready to go. But he adds that it doesn't make sense for Florida to have a huge winter infrastructure for a rare event. He and local officials have been urging people to avoid driving except in emergencies.

Officials say off road, it's important to protect people, pets and pipes.

Even after the storm passes, it may take the better part of Wednesday for roads to become passable.

Here is a winter weather message from the National Weather Service in Tallahassee (which includes parts of Georgia and Alabama):

SNOWFALL BETWEEN 2 AND 4 INCHES.

* WHERE...PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ALABAMA, PANHANDLE FLORIDA, AND

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

* WHEN...FROM 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST /6 AM

CST/ WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...ROADS, AND ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES, WILL

LIKELY BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD

CONDITIONS. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD IMPACT THE TUESDAY

EVENING AND WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUTES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.

PERSONS ARE URGED TO STAY INDOORS UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. IF YOU MUST GO OUTSIDE, DRESS IN LAYERS. SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHES WILL KEEP YOU WARMER THAN A SINGLE HEAVY COAT. COVER EXPOSED SKIN TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FROSTBITE OR HYPOTHERMIA. GLOVES, A SCARF, AND A HAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM LOSING YOUR BODY HEAT.

PERSONS SHOULD DELAY ALL TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE. IF TRAVEL IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, DRIVE WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN CHANGES IN VISIBILITY. LEAVE PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN YOU AND THE MOTORIST AHEAD OF YOU, AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. AVOID SUDDEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATION, AND BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS ON HILLS OR WHEN MAKING TURNS. MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS WINTERIZED AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

DO NOT TOUCH DOWNED LINES AND REPORT ANY POWER OUTAGES TO YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED DUE TO SLICK ROADWAYS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES.

&&

$$

FLZ012>019-026>029-034-112-114-115-118-127-128-134-GAZ127>131- 145>148-156>161-211630- /O.EXT.KTAE.WS.W.0001.250121T1800Z-250122T1800Z/ INLAND BAY-CALHOUN-INLAND GULF-INLAND FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON- INLAND JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY-INLAND WAKULLA-INLAND TAYLOR- LAFAYETTE-INLAND DIXIE-COASTAL BAY-COASTAL GULF-COASTAL FRANKLIN- COASTAL JEFFERSON-COASTAL WAKULLA-COASTAL TAYLOR-COASTAL DIXIE- WORTH-TURNER-TIFT-BEN HILL-IRWIN-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-BERRIEN- DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MORGAN PLACE, LYNN HAVEN, FISH CREEK, BUCK SIDING, LITTMAN, SYLVESTER AIRPORT, HANOVER, MEDART, HILLIARDVILLE, SOPCHOPPY, MASSEE, MONTICELLO, YELLOW JACKET, MAGNOLIA BEACH, ABE SPRINGS, CAPEL, LACONTE, HOWELL PLACE, ALFORDS, SYLVESTER, CAMILLA, CEDAR ISLAND, PORT ST. JOE, TALLAHASSEE, BAY CITY, BOYD, CROSS CITY, WHITE CITY, PANACEA, DEKLE BEACH, CASA BLANCO, DRIFTON, HARDIN HEIGHTS, LYNN, OLD TOWN, TEETERVILLE, CHAIRES CROSSROADS, DILLON, MOULTRIE MUNICIPAL A/P, MAYO, BETHEL, PERRY, BRADFORDVILLE, BLUE SPRINGS, WETUMPKA, LOVETT, WEBER, HAYS PLACE, HOWARD CREEK, METCALF, BERRIEN CO A/P, SUNSWEET, PINETTA, LAKELAND, BROOKS CO A/P, NIXON, WEST BAINBRIDGE, PORT LEON, EMPRESS, GROOVERVILLE, PANAMA CITY, DALKEITH, MITCHELL CO A/P, SOUTHPORT, ODENA, CALLAWAY, SHIRED ISLAND, CHATTAHOOCHEE, ASHBURN, FITZGERALD, PELHAM, BAINBRIDGE, MONCRIEF, SAINT JOE BEACH, YOUNGSTOWN, FENHOLLOWAY, VICKSBURG, JONESBORO, CARBUR, JARROTT, DIXIE, HORSESHOE BEACH, MIDWAY, FRINK, CAIRO, HINES, COOKS HAMMOCK, BARNEYVILLE, DURHAM, APALACHICOLA, WAKULLA SPRINGS, CAPITOLA, QUINCY, QUITMAN, CHERRY LAKE, CHULA, WORTH, MARYSVILLE, WESTWOOD, CROSS CITY AIRPORT, OAK GROVE, BRANCHVILLE, QUEENSLAND, FORT GADSDEN, SCOTTS FERRY, HIGH BLUFF, MADISON, TIFTON, ADEL, ASHTON, CHAIRES, BUCELL JUNCTION, COOK CO A/P, SANTA CLARA, MOULTRIE, HOPEWELL, OCILLA, DECATUR CO A/P, GRADY CO A/P, CLARKSVILLE, QUINCY AIRPORT, TILTON, GAMMAGE, HOBBY, ECONFINA, ABBA, VALDOSTA, FITZGERALD MUNICIPAL A/P, SPENCE AIRPORT, BANNOCKBURN, BEACON HILL, BENNETT, NANKIN, NASHVILLE, CAPPS, DILLS, COTTLE, CREELS, KILLEARN ESTATES, IRWINVILLE, PASCO, RED ROCK, WATERLOO, WEWAHITCHKA, PINE VALLEY, BUCKHORN, ELPINO, BEACHTON, ADAMS BEACH, BEVERLY, ISABELLA, HONEYVILLE, APALACHICOLA AIRPORT, DAY, ALMA, HARDING, HANSON, COTTON, PINE PARK, KILLEARN LAKES, JENA, GORDY, ATHENA, CABBAGE GROVE, FESTUS, BOWENS MILL, OVERSTREET, THOMASVILLE, COURTHOUSE, BUCKVILLE, BLOUNTSTOWN, SWEETWATER, SAINT MARKS, STEINHAM STORE, GREGGS, AUSMAC, MACLAY STATE GARDENS, SUWANNEE, AND VALDOSTA REGIONAL AIRPORT 330 AM EST TUE JAN 21 2025 /230 AM CST TUE JAN 21 2025/

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM EST /NOON CST/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST /NOON CST/ WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...HEAVY MIXED PRECIPITATION EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW AND SLEET

ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 4 INCHES AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO TWO

TENTHS OF AN INCH.

* WHERE...PORTIONS OF BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE FLORIDA AND SOUTH

CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

* WHEN...FROM 1 PM EST /NOON CST/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST /NOON

CST/ WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...ROADS, AND ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES, WILL

LIKELY BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. THE STRONG WINDS AND WEIGHT OF

SNOW ON TREE LIMBS MAY DOWN POWER LINES AND COULD CAUSE SPORADIC

POWER OUTAGES. SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION ON POWER LINES AND

TREE LIMBS MAY CAUSE WIDESPREAD AND LONG-LASTING POWER OUTAGES.

PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD

IMPACT THE TUESDAY EVENING AND WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUTES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.

PERSONS ARE URGED TO STAY INDOORS UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. IF YOU MUST GO OUTSIDE, DRESS IN LAYERS. SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHES WILL KEEP YOU WARMER THAN A SINGLE HEAVY COAT. COVER EXPOSED SKIN TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FROSTBITE OR HYPOTHERMIA. GLOVES, A SCARF, AND A HAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM LOSING YOUR BODY HEAT.

PERSONS SHOULD DELAY ALL TRAVEL IF POSSIBLE. IF TRAVEL IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, DRIVE WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN CHANGES IN VISIBILITY. LEAVE PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN YOU AND THE MOTORIST AHEAD OF YOU, AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. AVOID SUDDEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATION, AND BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS ON HILLS OR WHEN MAKING TURNS. MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS WINTERIZED AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

DO NOT TOUCH DOWNED LINES AND REPORT ANY POWER OUTAGES TO YOUR ELECTRIC COMPANY. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED DUE TO SLICK ROADWAYS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES.

Photo: FDOT

Jeffrey T. Mason