The watch goes into effect late Sunday night—beginning at midnight—and continues through noon Monday. Forecasters warn that dangerously low wind chills are possible, ranging from the single digits well inland to the mid‑teens along the coast.
Before the cold arrives, the region will see mild temperatures and increasing rain Saturday afternoon into the evening. Winds are expected to run 10–15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
Sunday’s forecast calls for a high near 72 degrees before temperatures plunge to around 26 overnight, accompanied by northwest winds near 15 mph. Monday night’s low is expected to fall to around 19 degrees. Forecasters say the area should remain south of any freezing rain or snow, with precipitation expected to stay all rain.
Crestview News Bulletin reached out to Okaloosa County to see what steps residents should take before and during the hard freeze.
Protecting people, pets, pipes, and plants, practicing fire safety, and having patience while driving are all important steps to take during extremely cold weather, Okaloosa County Public Safety Director Pat Maddox said.
“People should dress warm. Dress in layers,” he said. “And check on elderly folks.”
Pets should be brought indoors, and people in the agricultural community should provide extra hay for their livestock, he said.
“But heat lamps can be dangerous,” Maddox said. “Chickens love to throw hay around, and if it lands on a heat lamp, that’s ‘no bueno.’”
Pipes should be protected with pipe insulation, which is relatively cheap, or they can be wrapped in other types of insulation, or even with towels, he said. Maddox also advised people to open their cabinet doors, and to allow their pipes to drip so the water in them won’t freeze as easily.
Plants should be covered or brought inside, he said.
Regarding fire safety, Maddox said heaters should be kept three feet away from any flammable objects, and stoves should not be used for staying warm. He also advised people to make sure their smoke detectors are operable.
For drivers, patience is a necessity, especially if roads become slick with ice, he said.
“Give yourself extra time to get to your destination so there’s no road rage,” Maddox said.
The hard freeze falls on the heels of last week’s light snow dusting in areas of Northwest Florida and nearly one year after an historic snowstorm struck the Panhandle with snow measuring between 8” – 10” in some areas.
