OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Ocala, an area more accustomed to sunshine than snow, is facing a rare and significant winter weather event. Freezing temperatures and the threat of wintry precipitation have prompted the Florida Department of Health in Marion County to issue a closure for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and local officials to take precautions.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a Freeze Warning from midnight Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday, with sub-freezing temperatures expected to drop as low as 31 degrees Fahrenheit. A concurrent Cold Weather Advisory warns of dangerously cold wind chills, potentially reaching as low as 20 degrees.
|CLOSURE: Florida Department of Health in Marion County to close on Wednesday due to weather impacts
Marion County Public Schools have already taken action, canceling all outdoor after-school activities for Wednesday, according to a Facebook post.
Further north in the state, winter weather is expected to be more impactful. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for portions of northeast and northern Florida, with mixed precipitation expected. Snow accumulations of up to one inch and light ice accumulations are possible in those areas.