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DeSantis discourages driving during potentially record-breaking North Florida ice and snow

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DeSantis discourages driving during potentially record-breaking North Florida ice and snow

By Jay Waagmeester
DeSantis discourages driving during potentially record-breaking North Florida ice and snow
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Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that 11 snow plows are on standby to address winter conditions approaching North Florida. (Photo via Florida DOT X account)

Facing a forecast of two to four inches of snow and freezing rain in North Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis discouraged unnecessary travel Tuesday.

A winter storm warning expands across all of North Florida and could creep into Central Florida.

The state and its infrastructure are not accustomed to the wintery weather, nor are drivers, the governor said during a news conference from the state emergency operations center.

“Our infrastructure is designed differently than states that are used to this. I mean, if this were South Dakota, they would just shrug their shoulders,” DeSantis said.

While while the state has “done a lot to prepare,” he said, the rare weather poses a challenge to counties and the state, which prioritize budgets to prepare and respond to hurricanes. 

“The road conditions, driving in icy conditions, can be very, very hazardous, and that’s true anyways, but you also have Florida drivers, which, look North Florida may not be the level of South Florida in terms of the driving, but when you are in these icy conditions, there’s a lot that can go wrong. And if people have never driven in that before, it is just different driving in that.”

DeSantis said 200 pieces of heavy equipment are ready to prepare and treat roadways, including 11 snow plows.

“Roads will become icy and dangerous. There is not a ‘may’ to that,” emergency management director Kevin Guthrie said during the news conference. 

DeSantis discourages driving during potentially record-breaking North Florida ice and snow
Gov. Ron DeSantis fields questions from reporters at the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee in advance of a winter weather event on Jan. 21, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

“They will become icy and dangerous. We want people, as the governor has mentioned, stay indoors. If you do not need to be on the road, do not be on the road. If you have to be on the road, make sure you’re utilizing low speeds. Make sure that you know how to drive in these conditions. If you don’t, it might be better just to walk.”

North Floridians should expect snow, sleet, and freezing rain in any combination until Wednesday morning. 

DeSantis said there could be localized snow accumulations of six inches, which would be a state record, according to his staff.

“We used to think Blizzard Beach was a theme park in Orlando,” DeSantis said opening the Tuesday news conference. “It turns out that we may see some snow on our beaches throughout the Northwest Florida and even into Tallahassee and beyond.”

The governor declared a state of emergency “to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of Florida,” the Phoenix reported Monday. 

The National Weather Service encourages delaying travel and is encouraging people to stay indoors until the weather improves. Dress in layers and avoid exposing skin to the elements, NWS recommends, too. 

The governor emphasized the importance of keeping pets, plants, and pipes warm. 

In a lighter tone, the governor said the event stands to be memorable for Floridians, including his kids. 

“This is something they’ll remember 40 years from now, like, ‘I was there when we got five inches of snow in northern Florida,’” DeSantis said, adding that it can only be remembered fondly if “you’re making smart decisions and not pushing the envelope on the road.”

Delays, closures

DeSantis discourages driving during potentially record-breaking North Florida ice and snow
(National Weather Service)

Fifteen school districts altered schedules Tuesday. Twelve closed for the day, three — Jefferson, Leon, and Madison counties — will release students early, according to the Department of Education

Twenty-five counties will not hold classes Wednesday, per a Tuesday morning posting from the department. 

Legislative committee meetings scheduled for this week were postponed yesterday by the leaders of both chambers, citing safety of lawmakers and staff traveling to Tallahassee. The deadline to draft bills was extended to Jan. 29 due to the cancellations. 

All airports were open and operational, DeSantis said, although airlines maintain the right to cancel flights. 

State offices are closed in the affected areas, with most government employees in the capital city leaving work early Tuesday and off Wednesday.

County-released information, including cold shelters, can be found on the state’s website.