As Cold Temperatures Persist, County Continues to Encourage Preparedness

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch and Cold Weather Advisory for Leon County. Therefore, the County urges all residents to take actions to ensure their safety, protect their homes, and care for their pets during this severe weather event.

Latest Forecast from the National Weather Service Tallahassee

• Freeze Warning: A hard freeze of 25°F or lower has been issued for Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle, effective tonight.
• Cold Weather Advisory: Issued areawide for wind chills ranging from the teens to low 20s, effective tonight. Confidence is increasing for a significant winter weather event expected late Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

• Wind chills will drop into the teens across Southeast Alabama, South Georgia, and parts of the Florida Panhandle each morning through Wednesday, with lower 20s elsewhere.
• Widespread sub-freezing temperatures and hard freezes are highly likely, with daytime highs struggling to rise above the 30s in many areas.
• Risks include frostbite, hypothermia, and potential damage to plants and pipes. An Extreme Cold Watch or Warning may be issued for the Florida Panhandle, where wind chills could drop below 15°F.

• A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for the entire region from late Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning.
• An area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of Mexico will interact with the arctic air mass, increasing the likelihood of impactful wintry precipitation.
• Initial precipitation may begin as rain Tuesday afternoon in Southeast Alabama and the Florida Panhandle before transitioning to snow or sleet.
• Freezing rain and sleet are likely Tuesday night as precipitation spreads eastward to the Florida Big Bend and Southwest Georgia.

• The track of the low-pressure system will determine precipitation type and location.
• There is a 60-90% likelihood of at least minor winter storm impacts, with a 20-40% chance of moderate impacts.
• Winter Storm Warnings may be issued later today if conditions persist or intensify.

Please consider the following safety measures for you and your family:

Safety Measures for Residents:

1. Stay Indoors: If going outside, dress in multiple layers and don't forget to wear a hat, scarf, gloves, or other winter attire.
2. Check on Vulnerable Individuals: Check in on elderly neighbors, family, and friends who may need additional assistance.
3. Heating Safety: Use heating devices safely. Keep flammable materials away from space heaters and do not use ovens or stoves to heat homes. Make sure each appliance is properly adjusted and you have followed the manufacturer's instructions and local building codes for use.

1. Protect Pipes: To prevent freezing and bursting, allow outdoor faucets to drip slightly overnight.
2. Do Not Use Certain Devices Indoors: Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by never using generators, charcoal grills or gas grills indoors. Also, be sure to check the batteries in all carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Refer to this Florida Department of Health video to learn more.
3. Protect Plants: Bring potted plants indoors or cover outdoor plants with blankets or plastic to prevent frost damage.

1. Bring Pets Indoors: Ensure that pets have a warm, indoor space. If this is not possible, provide a dry, draft-free shelter outside.
2. Check Paws and Fur: Wipe your pet’s paws and fur after being outside to remove ice and moisture.
3. Ensure Adequate Food and Water: Pets need more food in the cold because keeping warm uses more energy.

• Visit LeonReady.com – The Leon Ready website is a hub of resources to help you, your family, and your neighborhood prepare for disasters. There are a variety of resources available, like the County’s Disaster Survival Guide, a full list of disaster supplies for your disaster bucket, and so much more, to increase your readiness. 
• Download the Leon County Citizens Connect Mobile App – The Citizens Connect mobile app puts timely emergency notifications at your fingertips through push notifications on your smartphone or other device. Be the first to know about shelter locations, road closures and service changes by downloading the application on the Apple and Google Play stores. 
• Visit the Leon County Emergency Information Portal – Hosting the same information as the Citizens Connect app, the Emergency Information Portal can be accessed on a desktop or a mobile browser by visiting www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
• Tune into iHeartRadio – Residents can listen to iHeartRadio on the following stations: WFLA-FM 100.7, WFLF-FM 94.5, WTNT 94.9, KISS-FM 107.1, X-FM101.5, and The Beat-FM 105.3. 
• Listen to 88.9 WFSU-FM – Residents can tune in to 88.9 FM for the most up-to-date information from local public safety officials. Featuring to-the-minute reporting, WFSU, Leon County and the City of Tallahassee remain committed to getting information out on the radio as soon as possible. 
• Call 2-1-1 Big Bend – If you need community information, services and support any day of the year, Big Bend 2-1-1 is reachable by dialing either 2-1-1 or (850) 617-6333. 
• Call 850-606-3700 with questions – Leon County Emergency Management staff is available to answer questions about how you should prepare, act and recover. 
• For updates on City of Tallahassee Utilities and other City services, visit Talgov.com. 

 
For more information, please contact Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.

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