Florida Gov. DeSantis declares state of emergency ahead of winter weather

Sleet, snow and freezing rain are expected in North Florida along the Interstate 10 corridor.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of this week’s hazardous winter weather that’s expected to bring snow to the Florida Panhandle.

Sleet, snow and freezing rain are expected in North Florida in the counties along the Interstate 10 corridor. Weather experts say it has the potential to be one of the worst storms in Gulf Coast history.

And state workers in 34 counties, including those in Tallahassee, will be off Wednesday.

“Hazardous driving conditions will exist Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, especially over bridges, overpasses, and elevated surfaces, leading to possible roadway and bridge closures across North Florida,” the executive order says.

The order activates the National Guard and Florida Guard as needed to respond to the emergency and allows the governor to “suspend the effect of any statute, rule, or order that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay any mitigation, response, or recovery action necessary to cope with this emergency.”

For the first time in seven years, winter storm warnings are in effect from Pensacola to Jacksonville and as south as Gainesville.

“Dangerously cold wind chills and prolonged freezing and sub-freezing temperatures are expected for North and North-Central Florida for the next several days,” the executive order says.

Tallahassee could see 1 to 2 inches of snow, according to the latest forecast models.

The Florida Department of Transportation has already started mobilizing snow plows, de-icing equipment and spray rigs across North Florida in anticipation of icy conditions.

“At FDOT, we prepare for everything, even the occasional Florida winter storm,” FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue posted on X.

Closures include schools, state offices

Fourteen school districts will close for a full or partial day on Tuesday, and 23 have decided to close Wednesday.

State offices will be closed in the following counties on Tuesday: Bay (11 a.m. CT), Calhoun (11 a.m. CT), Escambia, Franklin (1 p.m. ET), Gadsden (1 p.m. ET), Gulf, (11 a.m. CT), Holmes, (11 a.m. CT), Jackson (11 a.m. CT), Jefferson, 1 p.m. ET), Leon (1 p.m. ET), Liberty (11 a.m. CT), Madison (1 p.m. ET), Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor (1 p.m. ET), Wakulla (1 p.m. ET), Walton (11 a.m. CT) and Washington (11 a.m. CT).

On Wednesday, the following state offices will be closed: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This story contains previously published material. Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.