Winter Weather Advisory / Schools (UPDATED)

5 p.m. - Around 5 p.m., freezing rain started falling in Fort Walton Beach.

The heaviest rainfall is coming down offshore and along the coast, stretching to the I-10 corridor, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala.

No accumulation is expected through the early evening hours.

Check back for updates on the developing weather situation.

Wondering what to do? Read cold weather tips from Santa Rosa County Emergency Management.

2 P.M. UPDATE:

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, effective from midnight tonight to 6 p.m. Friday.

A winter storm warning means "significant amounts of snow, ice and sleet" are expected, making travel "very hazardous or impossible."

Okaloosa schools are still planning to be open as usual on Friday. No other local school districts have announced any changes to normal schedules.

Walton County and counties to the east are not under the winter storm warning.

8:00 a.m. - It's official. Portions of the Florida Panhandle will see snow on Friday, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible in northern portions of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. Coastal areas will see anything from a "trace" to as much as an inch or more.

Northern parts of those counties are under a winter weather watch and a winter weather advisory is expected to be issued for coastal areas on Thursday.

"The snow will mostly fall during the day on Friday," said John Purdy, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Mobile. "It will begin Friday morning and be ending by Friday evening."

At this point, Walton County is not under any weather warnings.

The last significant snowfall was more than 30 years ago, when portions of the area saw as much as four inches of snow on Jan. 31, 1977.

"It's definitely not common," Purdy said of issuing winter weather watches.

SWFD offers up these winter weather advisories and tips.

(Santa Rosa Beach) - The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for South Walton on Thursday night and Friday morning. Local meteorologists forecast precipitation and freezing temperatures for the next 36 hours, which may create snow flurries. Although no snow accumulation is anticipated, there is an increased likelihood of ice forming on roads, bridges and low-lying areas throughout our District.

The South Walton Fire District encourages members of the community to please limit leaving your homes only when necessary while icy conditions are prevalent. If you must be out on the roadways, please use extreme caution and be aware of black ice. Although rare in Florida, black ice is a dangerous wintertime hazard because the icy road may not always be visible to the driver.

While a shiny road surface indicates an obviously wet or icy road, a road covered with black ice will look a little different. Keep an eye out for pavement that is slightly darker and a little duller looking than the rest of the road surface. This may indicate that black ice is present. Because black ice is so tricky to detect, a driver may not realize there is an icy road surface until his car begins to slide. Drive smoothly and steadily, if you begin to slide to take your foot off the gas, don’t slam on the brakes and turn your wheels in the direction of the slide.

Additional cold weather safety tips:

•Remember some areas around porches, steps, and sidewalks may have had standing water that has frozen.

•Remember to be extra careful and dress warm, layering works best, if you have to go out!

•Remember the five P's of cold weather: Protect people, protect pets, protect plants, protect pipes and practice fire safety!

•Remember, in the event of power outages; be extremely careful when using generators or fuel burning space heaters, as they can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide that can cause poisoning in only a matter of minutes.

•Remember to never use either gas powered or electric stoves or ovens to heat your home.

For questions or further information, please contact Sean Hughes, deputy chief at 850-267-1298 or visit www.swfd.org.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office and the EOC offer this update.

DeFuniak Springs, FL –This afternoon Walton County Sheriff’s Chief of Emergency Management and Public Safety Communications Division, Captain Mike Barker, met with emergency responders and Walton County officials in a teleconference with the National Weather Service offices in both Mobile and Tallahassee.

Weather Service Meteorologists’ predict snow will begin falling early tonight from I-10 northward to the Alabama Stateline.  One to two inches is expected in the Northern half of Walton County with even heavier amounts in South Alabama.  Heavier amounts are also expected across northern portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.  Areas south of I-10 in Walton County can expect rain, possible sleet beginning around the same time.   

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow, which is in effect from 3 a.m. till 6 p.m. Friday night.  The National Weather Service indicates that the snow will be wet and heavy and power outages are possible. 

It has been nearly 17 years (March, 1993) since Northwest, Florida has received any snow accumulations.  It will be a sight we normally do not see; folks are urged to be safe.

An update from Supt. Carlene Anderson and the Walton County School District.

"Walton County School District will have schools open on Friday, February 12th.  Parents need to be advised that weather and road conditions could change which may require decision to close.  Stay tuned to local media and
the district website at www.walton.k12.fl.us for further information."