Arctic air and gusty winds bring potential for light snow in Florida
FOR NOW, WE’RE LIVE. CALEB CALIFANO, WPBF 25 NEWS. WEEKEND. RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND BIG WEATHER CHANGES SATURDAY. I’VE GOT SOME IMPACT WEATHER UP BECAUSE OF THE STRONG, GUSTY WINDS THAT ARE GOING TO COME WITH OUR ARCTIC FRONT. WINDS COULD GET AS HIGH AS 40MPH, SO WE’LL GET 66 BEFORE THE DAY IS DONE. AND THEN SEVERE WEATHER WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SUNDAY, AS WILL BE TRACKING FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR MOST OF THE AREA. HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE JUST GOING TO BE INTO THE UPPER 40S AND LOWER 50S ON SUNDAY. ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THIS RECORD COLD ON THE WAY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WATCHES, A FEW WARNINGS OUT THERE AND VERY DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS AND EXTREME COLD WATCH HAS BEEN PLACED FOR OUR ENTIRE AREA. PARTS OF THE TREASURE COAST DOWN TO PALM BEACH COUNTY AS WE GO THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY, PER THE WEATHER SERVICE. THIS IS WHERE WE CAN EXPECT WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES TO FEEL LIKE 18 TO 20 DEGREES, ESPECIALLY INTO THE OVERNIGHT, AND THAT CAN PRODUCE HYPOTHERMIA AND ALSO FROSTBITE. IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME OUTSIDE. SO AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS COLD PATTERN KICKING IN SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. ALSO COMPOUND THAT WITH THOSE STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT FEEL EXTRA COLD OUT THERE. SO LET’S ENJOY THE MILD WEATHER WHILE WE HAVE IT. I MEAN, IT’S NICE. BELLE GLADE AT 6959 IN VERO BEACH, STILL 67 DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH. IF YOU’RE HEADED OUT TO CLEMATIS BY NIGHT, A FAIRLY COMFORTABLE JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE COOL SIDE TONIGHT, MAYBE LIGHT JACKET NEEDED, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, TOMORROW WILL BE THE LAST OF THE WARM DAYS BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT EXTREME COLD FOR US HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. ALL RIGHT, SO YOUR HOUR BY HOUR PLANNER FOR TONIGHT ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY GOT OVERNIGHT LOWS DOWN. I’D SAY 56 TO 58 IN THE MORNING. PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. RAIN CHANCE ABOUT 20%. AND THEN FOR THE TREASURE COAST. NOT AS CHILLY AS THIS MORNING. THANKS FOR SENDING YOUR PICTURES. BY THE WAY, OF THE FROST THROUGH INDIAN RIVER, SAINT LUCIE, OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES. JUST LOOKING FOR 49 IN THE MORNING ACROSS THE TREASURE COAST. ALL RIGHT, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE FUTURE TRACK BECAUSE IT TELLS THE BIG WEATHER STORY MOVING FORWARD. TOMORROW LOOKS GOOD. QUICK REBOUND ABOUT 70 DEGREES. ISOLATED SHOWER FRONT COMES THROUGH ON SATURDAY. LATE MORNING. BUT FIRST A FEW OF THESE SCATTERED SHOWERS MOVE IN 40% CHANCE THERE. THEN AS THAT ARCTIC AIR SLIDES ON THROUGH. LOOK AT THAT. GOT SOME PINKS AND BLUES. SNOW FLURRIES POSSIBLE FROM TAMPA JUST TO THE WEST OF ORLANDO, AND MAYBE EVEN DOWN TOWARDS BRADENTON EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. AND THEN EVERYTHING JUST TURNS BITTER COLD ACROSS OUR AREA AS THESE WIND CHILL FACTORS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, COULD FEEL AS LOW AS 17 DEGREES ON YOUR SKIN. THIS IS NOT MAKING UP ANYTHING. THIS IS WHAT IT COULD FEEL LIKE ON YOUR SKIN IN OKEECHOBEE. FEELING LIKE 16 TO 17 ACROSS THE TREASURE COAST AND FEELING LIKE 20S DOWN INTO PALM BEACH COUNTY. ALL RIGHT, SO BOATING FORECAST FOR TOMORROW SEAS. OKAY, 2 TO 5, NORTHEASTERLY BREEZE AT 5 TO 10. HERE’S A LOOK AT YOUR FIRST WARNING. SEVEN-DAY FORECAST 70 DEGREES ON FRIDAY. IMPACT WEATHER BECAUSE OF SOME GUSTY WINDS ON SATURDAY. AND THEN YOUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING SUNDAY MORNING BECAUSE
Arctic air and gusty winds bring potential for light snow in Florida
Updated: 8:13 PM EST Jan 29, 2026
Florida braces for extremely cold arctic air and gusty winds this weekend, with the chance of Gulf-effect snow along the Gulf coast, including Tampa Bay.WPBF 25 First Warning meteorologist Glenn Glazer said that as extremely cold arctic air and gusty winds sweep across Florida on Saturday night, some light rainfall could develop in the Gulf and move onshore. As temperatures tumble, some light rain could be mixed with light snow in the Tampa area.Interactive radar: South Florida weather coverage from WPBF 25 NewsThe chance of lake-effect snow around Lake Okeechobee is unlikely.The National Weather Service describes lake-effect snow when cold air moves across the open waters. As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere.The air rises, clouds form and grow into a narrow band that produces snow. The NWS notes that wind direction is an important component in determining which areas will receive snow.Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Florida braces for extremely cold arctic air and gusty winds this weekend, with the chance of Gulf-effect snow along the Gulf coast, including Tampa Bay.
WPBF 25 First Warning meteorologist Glenn Glazer said that as extremely cold arctic air and gusty winds sweep across Florida on Saturday night, some light rainfall could develop in the Gulf and move onshore.
As temperatures tumble, some light rain could be mixed with light snow in the Tampa area.
Hearst OwnedWPBF 25 News
Gulf effect snow is possible in the Tampa Bay area this weekend.
Interactive radar: South Florida weather coverage from WPBF 25 News
The chance of lake-effect snow around Lake Okeechobee is unlikely.
The National Weather Service describes lake-effect snow when cold air moves across the open waters. As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere.
The air rises, clouds form and grow into a narrow band that produces snow.
The NWS notes that wind direction is an important component in determining which areas will receive snow.
Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.