Central Florida, Orlando preparing for winter weather impacts

Frigid temperatures engulfed the South on Monday ahead of a winter storm that’s expected to spread heavy snow and disruptive ice around a region from Texas to north Florida that rarely sees such weather, sending residents rushing to insulate pipes, check heating systems and stock up on emergency supplies.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for the state of Florida ahead of a major winter storm, which can read more about here.

Floridians stock up ahead of winter weather

Central Florida residents are making last-minute trips to hardware stores to stock up on supplies like ice scrapers, firewood, and even pool salt as they brace for the effects of an incoming polar vortex.

"People use it to scrape asphalt off sometimes or some other applications, but you can also use it for ice also on your driveway if you don’t have salt," said Fernando Hernandez, an employee at ACE Hardware.

Residents in The Villages are taking no chances.

What they're saying:

"I’ve seen hard freezes in the ’90s, seen it when it killed all the orange trees," said Tom Ward, a lifelong Florida resident.

Tourists are also questioning Florida’s preparedness.

"We live in Tennessee right now, and the last storm we had here — this last year — we had five inches of snow, and they closed school for two weeks. They had nothing to remove the snow with," said Charles Lawrence, visiting friends in The Villages.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is already taking action to prepare for the icy conditions.

"Motorists may notice an increased number of FDOT vehicles on state routes as crews deploy various tankers and bridge deck sprayers to apply anti-icing products on bridges and overpasses to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement surface," the department said in a statement.

Winter Storm disrupts flights at Orlando airport

Orlando International Airport is already seeing weather-related delays and cancelations as a powerful winter storm sweeps across the Southeast, shutting down airports and grounding flights in multiple states.

What we know:

Houston airports are set to close at midnight, causing widespread disruptions. Flights from Orlando to Houston are among the most affected, with the 10:30 p.m. departure canceled, along with 10 additional flights to Houston scheduled for Tuesday.

The rare winter storm, bringing snow and ice to Gulf Coast cities from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, is impacting travel nationwide. All five flights from Orlando to New Orleans on Tuesday have been canceled, along with a midday flight to Pensacola.

Travelers heading to Orlando are also facing significant delays. One Pensacola-to-Orlando flight scheduled for Tuesday is canceled, while New Orleans has grounded seven flights to Orlando. In Texas, 11 flights from Houston to Orlando scheduled for Tuesday are now grounded.

Passengers affected by the storm are bracing for extended wait times and uncertainty. 

"It’s been decades since a winter storm like this has hit Houston," said one man flying to Dallas who previously lived in Houston for 20 years.

What we don't know:

We still don't know exactly how the snow, ice and freezing rain could impact Orlando, because it's still unclear where the freeze line will settle and how regional airports may be disrupted. Airport officials urge travelers to check flight statuses frequently as cancelations and delays continue to escalate.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Department of Transportation, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida residents and travelers, and the Associated Press.

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