Orlando weather: Wet, chilly week ahead; Snow possible in Florida? See timeline

Timeline:

On Tuesday, expect periodic soaking rain showers beginning before dawn and continuing on-and-off throughout the day. Rainfall totals will range from 0.5" to 1", and temperatures will remain cooler with highs only in the 50s.

Wednesday has been declared a FOX 35 Weather Impact Day due to continued on-and-off cold rain throughout the day, with highs staying in the 50s. 

Additional rainfall is expected to total between 0.5" to 1.5". 

Winter weather in northern Florida

What we know:

For northern Florida, particularly north of Ocala (especially from Gainesville and points north), light freezing rain is possible late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. 

This could result in hazardous road conditions, particularly along Interstate 10, as Florida does not typically treat roads with sand or salt. This could cripple traffic in north Florida. 

Remember, "4-wheel drive doesn't mean 4-wheel stop," so expect to see many confident drivers spinning out.

A Winter Storm Watch – the first issued in Florida since January 2018 – is in effect for local regions of Alachua, Dixie, and Gilchrist counties due to the freezing rain/snow threat.

Is snow possible in Florida?

Local perspective:

Snow is possible on elevated surfaces near I-10, with up to 1-5 inches of accumulation in parts of the Florida Panhandle west of Tallahassee. The best chance for freezing rain in the Central Florida region will be in Dunnellon, located in the westernmost part of Marion County.

Dig deeper:

In weather history, the heaviest recorded snowfall in Florida occurred on March 6, 1954, when four inches of snow fell at the Milton Experimental Station in Santa Rosa County. This event holds the state's 24-hour snowfall record.

 Additionally, during the 1993 Superstorm, up to four inches of snow were reported along the Florida Panhandle. 

Orlando 7-Day Weather Forecast

 

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team on Jan. 20, 2025. 

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