Will it snow in Panama City, Florida? Live updates on the winter storm

On January 22, 2025By Littum

(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

Very cold weather has hit Bay County. The schools are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, as are the county offices. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency, and experts say this could be one of the worst winter storms the Gulf Coast has seen. Tuesday night, the sheriff’s office said all roads and bridges are to be considered unsafe and impassable until further notice.

Stay tuned here today as we provide the latest information.

ONE Facebook post by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office reflects an AlertBay notification received by local residents. The message: All roads and bridges are currently considered unsafe.

The advice is valid until further notice. BCSO clarified that this is not a curfew, but strongly advised all residents to suspend or delay all travel. The board says conditions are becoming more and more dangerous for motorists.

The post goes on to say that only emergency vehicles should be on Bay County roads until conditions improve. The agency further added that 6 inches of snowfall is in the forecast for the area.

Bay County will continue to monitor road conditions and BCSO says it will make updates as information becomes available.

A shower hit Bay County Tuesday afternoon. Around 5 p.m., areas of Panama City Beach near Frank Brown Park were covered in snow.

— Nathan Cobb

Pensacola likely broke the state’s 130-year-old record for total snowfall. Here is the story.

National Weather Service forecast office out of Tallahassee advised locals in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon.

The agency is warning of the possibility of near-whiteout conditions along a band stretching from the Gulf Coast to Alabama. Wind gusts of 25-30 mph combined with blowing snow may cause limited visibility.

“This can quickly become a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation if one is out driving,” the NWS said in its post. “Especially if you’re stranded without protection from the cold or a winter survival kit.”

The new warning is due to a zone of better lift taking shape over the Panhandle, which could lead to potentially heavy snow as it moves east.

The new snow and sleet forecast for Panama City shows 3 to 4 inches overnight, with some parts of Bay County potentially seeing up to 6 inches.

The update includes a list of what should be in a winter survival kit:

Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit
Snow shovel
Ice scraper (with brush)
Blankets or sleeping bags
Non-perishable food
Bottled water
Booster cables
Extra clothes (cold weather)
Sand or cat litter for traction
Mobile phone and charger
Candles, triangles or other bright objects

— Dylan Gentile

Grand Marlin will be closed on Tuesday, January 21 due to weather conditions.

Texas Roadhouse is closed on Tuesday 21 January due to weather conditions.

Pier Park North have closed stores due to the weather.

— DeonTay Smith

Bay District Schools are closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to weather. Likewise, there will be no extracurricular activities for Bay District Schools on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We understand that changes to the school schedule can be difficult for our families, staff and the community, but our top priority is ensuring the safety of our students and staff as this weather system moves through.” BDS said in a Facebook post. “We appreciate your patience and support as we continue to monitor conditions and will provide updates as needed.”

Florida State University Panama City is also closed 21-22. January due to the weather. The university resumes classes and normal business operations at 7.00 on Thursday 23 January with classes at 8:00 a.m.

“Students are encouraged to keep an eye on local weather alerts.” This is stated by FSU PC in a press release. “Updates will be posted on FSU’s PC social media and the university will send separate notices to students. Students should monitor their email and Canvas class websites for information from their instructors.”

— DeonTay Smith

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford spoke to the press ahead of what will be a historic winter storm in Panama City.

Ford echoed the sentiments of other county officials, urging residents to stay off the roads until conditions improve. He said this could be a great experience for children and families to play in the snow as long as they stay at home.

He confirmed that BCSO will have extra deputies in place to handle emergency situations during the storm.

Bridges in Bay County will remain open as of Tuesday afternoon, but that could change, according to Ford. The major bridges in the area are the responsibility of the Florida Department of Transportation, which will make the call to close them depending on the situation. The county intends to do the same with its bridges, and will make the call as the situation develops.

Officials explained to the reporters that it is easier for the bridge to ice over in winter weather unlike other roads.

“It can be a serious situation if you try to go over that bridge and lose your grip,” Ford said.

When they call for bridge closures or not, the county will communicate that with residents over multiple platforms, Ford said. They plan to work with local media, sending out notifications via AlertBay and posting on their social media channels.

In the event that bridges are closed, they will not be blocked or blocked, according to Ford.

— Dylan Gentile

Bay County Emergency Manager Matthew Lindewirth spoke about the impending winter storm during a press conference Tuesday morning.

With an expected 1 to 4 inches of wintry precipitation, the county is bracing for what could be a messy situation on the roads. Lindewirth urged residents to stay off the roadways and indoors until conditions improve.

He says first responders will still work; however, he asks residents to be patient with response times as they expect mobility issues on the roads. In this regard, he emphasized that residents should only use 911 in the event of a true emergency.

Lindewirth added that those who try to defy the roadways can actually make the situation more difficult for first responders. He said the county doesn’t have snow plows or a way to clear the roads, and when cars drive over snow or sleet during the day, it can create a sheet of ice. The ice can make it more difficult for emergency vehicles to move safely.

Additionally, he added that those who need an ambulance are likely to be taken to the nearest hospital as opposed to one of their choice. Dangerous roads and a potential for bridge closures mean they will be limited in where they can safely take you.

Lindewirth encourages residents to keep generators outside. Generators produce a deadly carbon monoxide gas, which is colorless, odorless and quickly turns deadly in an enclosed space.

“You’ll be dead if you put it inside, to be honest,” Lindewirth said. “It’s an unfortunate way to lose an entire family.”

He further advised that residents should avoid going out on icy surfaces to avoid a fall resulting in an injury.

Officials also noted that they are working closely with Florida Power and Light as well as other electric providers to respond quickly in the event of power outages. Lindewirth said FPL staged additional utility workers in Bay County ahead of the storm.

“I can’t tell you that we have a plan for a major snowstorm, but we will after this,” Lindewirth said.

He praised county staff for their disaster preparedness knowledge and insinuated the county retained some wisdom from the historic 1989 snow event as well as the 2014 freeze.

— Dylan Gentile

City halls throughout Bay County are scheduled to close temporarily in response to this week’s winter storm. Here’s what we know:

Panama City Hall closes at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, remains closed all Wednesday and reopens at 8.00 Thursday.
Panama City Beach City Hall was closed all day Tuesday and Wednesday. It will reopen at 7:30 a.m. Thursday
Lynn Haven Town Hall closes at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, remains closed all Wednesday and reopens at 7.30 Thursday.
Callaway Town Hall closes at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, remains closed all Wednesday and reopens at 8.00 Thursday.
Parker City Hall will close at noon Tuesday, remain closed all day Wednesday, and reopen at 7:30 Thursday.
Mexico Beach City Hall closes at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, remains closed all Wednesday and reopens at 8.00 Thursday.

– Nathan Cobb

As Bay County residents prepare for a historic freeze, here’s a look at updates from National Weather Service.

The county is under a cold weather warning, extreme cold warning and winter storm warning. The cold weather warning is set to expire at 11 a.m. The weather service states that dangerously cold wind chills are expected down to the 7th.

The warning further states that frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. Pipes can also burst as a result of the prolonged cold. The warning will be in effect from midnight tonight until Wednesday morning.

The weather service advises residents to dress appropriately, keep pets indoors and check on elderly friends and relatives. Outdoor pipes should be wrapped, drained or allowed to drip slowly to prevent breakage.

The winter storm warning will be in effect from Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon. Forecasters say snow and sleet accumulations of up to 4 inches and ice accumulations of up to less than an inch are possible.

Roads can be slippery and dangerous. Power outages can occur due to the weight of snow or ice on power lines and tree limbs.

The NWS is urging residents to remain indoors until conditions improve. It also advises those venturing out to wear layers and keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.

The agency says drivers should allow more time to get to their destination, leave plenty of space between themselves and the car in front of them, avoid sudden acceleration or braking, and use caution on hills and while making turns.

There is a 100% chance of precipitation today, and most of Bay County is expected to get a wintry mix of snow, rain and sleet. A high near 38 is expected this afternoon before dropping to 21 this evening. Winds are north around 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph.

A daytime accumulation of about an inch of snow and sleet is possible. New accumulations of about 2 inches are expected tonight.

The precipitation is expected to let up on Wednesday; however, wind chill values are expected as low as 10. Gusty winds should continue throughout the day with a high of 37 and a low of 24.

Temperatures are expected to rise again Thursday through the rest of the week with no precipitation expected.

In one Facebook postthe NWS forecast office in Tallahassee released a graphic showing Panama City seeing wintry mix accumulations starting around 2 p.m. The post shows the earliest possible start between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m

— Dylan Gentile

(This story was updated to add new information)