Brooksville, FL – Hernando County officials have activated emergency cold weather protocols this weekend as freezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills grip central and southwest Florida.
According to the Hernando County Emergency Management, the region is experiencing one of the coldest air masses in more than 15 years. Wind chills in Brooksville and inland Hernando are expected to dip between 8–12°F, with upper teens to low 20s along coastal areas from Saturday night through early Tuesday morning.
A Cold Weather Impact Briefing issued by the National Weather Service highlights extreme cold beginning Saturday evening through Monday morning, with gusty northwest winds up to 40 mph and a slight (10–20%) chance of isolated snow flurries late Saturday night.
To assist residents, the Enrichment Center at 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd. in Brooksville is operating as a Warming Center each night from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. through Tuesday, February 4, at 8:00 a.m. Free transportation is available via Hernando County Transit (TheBus), with pickup at Walmart on Broad Street at 8:00 p.m. and return at 8:00 a.m.
Officials urge residents to bring pets indoors, protect pipes and plants, and check on neighbors who may need shelter. No measurable snow is expected, but hazardous cold and strong winds could make travel difficult through early next week.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for weather alerts at AlertHernando.org for updates.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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