OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A wave of cold weather is hitting north-central Florida over the next couple days, causing communities to open their cold weather shelters.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures are expected between 23 degrees to 32 degrees from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. The wind chill forecast is expected to be between 15 to 25 degrees.

Gainesville
The city of Gainesville announced Tuesday it’s activating the Cold Night Shelter (CNS) program on Tuesday, Jan. 16 and Wednesday, Jan. 17 due to low temperatures.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s with wind chill values into the 20s. Anything below 45 degrees triggers the city’s CNS program. The program will remain in effect until temperatures reach above 45 degrees.

The city offers two shelters for those in need during this chilly weather. For families, women, and children, St. Francis House provides temporary shelter. GRACE Marketplace is also available and typically serves “individual adults,” shared the city in a release.

| Freeze Warning: Dangerously cold temps Tuesday & Wednesday

Citrus County
For Citrus County residents, those in need can go to the Citrus Cold Weather Shelter located at the Nature Coast Church in Homosassa. The address for the church is 5113 South Suncoast Boulevard.

The shelter says they are expecting temperatures to drop below 42 degrees. Free transportation is available for those in need through Citrus County’s transit system.

Hot meals, a warm asleep area, showers, snacks, and much more are available shared the shelter in a Facebook post.

They will be providing dinner for Tuesday night and are asking for helpful donations for breakfast on Wednesday and Thursday. More specifically, they are asking for sandwich and soup donations.

For more information regarding the shelter in Citrus County, call 352-234-3099

Marion County
For those who need to seek shelter in Marion County, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) says the Salvation Army made accommodations and is prepared for an “influx of individuals” due to the low temperatures. The address is 320 NW 1st Ave. in Ocala.

MCSO says its Emergency Management Division will be working with Salvation Army and other community partners to ensure those who need safety are tended to. The check-in time is at 6:00 p.m. They are also reminding us of the four “Ps” which are to protect people, pets, plants, and to practice fire safety.

Lake County

Lake County has a cold-weather shelter available to those in need on Tuesday, Jan 16, and Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The shelter is located in Eustis at the LifePointe Church. The address for the church is 3551 East Orange Avenue. It is open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Lake County officials say the county’s bus service, Lake Xpress, is also available for free to those who need transportation to the shelter. If you need to make travel arrangements, you can call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612.

The shelter will close on Thursday, January 18, and the buses will be available at 7 a.m. to transport residents to regularly scheduled stops.

You can text COLD to 888-777 to receive updates about the cold weather shelters. For more information, click here.