Tallahassee, Florida – A biting blast of winter air is settling across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend tonight, with dangerous wind chills plunging into the upper teens and lower 20s by Tuesday morning.
Temperatures dipped slightly more than expected during Monday afternoon, prompting forecasters to expand the Cold Weather Advisory eastward and down to the Gulf Coast. While air temperatures are expected to stay just above hard-freeze levels, the primary concern will be wind chills ranging from 17 to 24 degrees across much of the Tallahassee area between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, brisk north winds will make conditions feel significantly colder than the thermometer suggests.
The advisory covers much of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, as well as parts of southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama. In Tallahassee, overnight lows are expected to fall into the mid-30s, but gusty winds will drive wind chill values into the low 20s before sunrise. Communities farther inland may briefly feel wind chills in the upper teens.
These conditions pose a heightened risk for people without adequate shelter, as well as young children and the elderly. Officials urge residents to dress in multiple layers, limit prolonged outdoor exposure early Tuesday, and check on neighbors who may need assistance. According to forecasters, residents should also practice fire safety and avoid using unsafe heating sources indoors.
Colder air is expected to arrive again Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as winds relax, allowing overnight lows to drop further. While this first cold snap is driven by wind, the next round may bring colder actual temperatures, increasing the need for plant and pet protection.
