Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Florida, January 3, 2018

Name: Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Florida, January 3, 2018
Start: 2018-01-03T03:00
End: 2018-01-03T12:00
Location: Florida

January 3, 2018 · NWS TAE · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.

Early in the morning of January 3rd, portions of north Florida and south Georgia had a mix of wintry precipitation. The precipitation was primarily freezing rain mixed with some sleet around Cross City and Mayo, Florida with ice accumulations estimated at a quarter to a half inch. In the areas around Tallahassee, Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia, the precipitation was initially freezing rain and sleet, but changed to snow. The heaviest accumulations of snow were in south Georgia where amounts ranged from 0.50 to 2 inches. Snow accumulations in north Florida were mostly less than half an inch, with only 0.1 inches measured officially in Tallahassee. For this region it was the first winter storm since December 1989.

Impacts were significant across the area. The ice accumulations in the Suwannee River Valley were enough to cause numerous power outages, especially in Lafayette county. Due to recent cold temperatures, ice also accumulated on numerous bridges and overpasses, resulting in a large section of I-10 being closed from Leon county eastward into the Suwannee Valley. In Georgia, all bridges and overpasses in the city of Valdosta were closed due to icy conditions. Around 105 accidents were reported in Lowndes county during the event, which is the most local officials could ever remember occurring in the county during one day.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 3, 2:55 AM EST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 3, 2:55 AM EST, 5 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
255 AM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

The shortwave that will bring a chance of wintry precipitation for
eastern portions of our CWA this morning was over Louisiana at 1 am
EST. Local radars show precipitation increasing across the eastern
Gulf with additional activity developing near the Florida Panhandle
and further upstream. Very dry air remains in place across our
region with dew points mostly in the lower to mid teens at 2 am.
Also, temperatures at 2 am in the eastern portions of our CWA where
we expect a wintry mix of precipitation to develop were hovering
around or just below freezing. We expect once the precip starts,
temperatures at the surface and in the column above will drop at
least a few more degrees due to evaporative cooling effects. It will
also take at least a few hours for the column to moisten up enough
before we see any precip reach the surface. Once it does, the
Florida Big Bend and eastern portions of South Central Georgia
should experience the most significant winter weather event since
late December of 1989. The counties currently under a Winter Weather
Advisory and Winter Storm Warning will remain unchanged and set to
expire at noon EST as temps rise above critical thresholds and/or
precip ends for our area. In the wake of the shortwave, much drier
air will filter in on northwest flow with skies becoming sunny to
partly cloudy most areas in the afternoon. Highs will only be in the
lower to mid 40s inland to upper 40s to around 50 along the coast.

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Friday]...

The deep trough that has been plaguing the Central and Eastern U.S.
will finally begin to retreat northward on Friday. At the surface
high pressure is centered over the Great Plains and a nor'easter is
headed up the Atlantic Coast. A cold dry air mass will remain over
the Southeast. POPs will be near zero on Thursday and Friday. Skies
will be mostly sunny/clear. Despite the abundant sunshine highs will
be in the lower to mid 40s. Lows will be in the lower to mid 20s.

.LONG TERM [Friday Night Through Wednesday]...

In the upper levels a trough remains over the Eastern U.S. A
shortwave will move through on Monday night. At the surface high
pressure will be over the Southeast until a low approaches on Sunday
night. The associated cold front will move through on Monday
afternoon and evening. POPs on Monday and Monday night are 30 to 60
percent. High pressure will move in once the front passes. Lows will
be in the 20s Friday night and Saturday night. Then lows will be
mainly in the 40s. Saturday will be cold with highs in the 40s but a
warm-up is expected on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 50s and
60s respectively.

&&

.AVIATION [Through 06Z Thursday]...

Winter weather scenario to unfold this morning primarily across the
TLH/VLD terminals while the other terminals expected to remain
precipitation free with VFR conds.

Conditions will deteriorate to MVFR at TLH and VLD once the
precipitation begins to fall around or just after 10z and vsbys may
decrease to IFR/LIFR in periods of all snow at VLD around or just
after daybreak. Precipitation should wind down by late morning (TLH)
and early afternoon (VLD). Flight conds return to VFR everywhere by
the end of the TAF period.

&&

.MARINE...

Strong northerly winds will continue until Friday morning. A Small
Craft Advisory is in effect from 11 AM EST to 7 AM EST Thursday
morning. Rain will end by this afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

With a cold dry air mass in place, minimum relative humidity values
will be in the lower to mid 20s this afternoon mainly along and west
of a line from Albany Georgia to just west of Tallahassee. However,
red flag conditions are not expected due to unmet wind and fuel
moisture criteria.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

River levels are still fairly low. The best chance for rain this
week will be next Monday. Less than 1 inch is forecast with that
system. No flooding concerns.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   45  25  45  22  45 /  30   0   0   0   0
Panama City   49  28  45  27  46 /  10   0   0   0   0
Dothan        44  23  42  21  43 /  10   0   0   0   0
Albany        44  23  42  21  43 /  20   0   0   0   0
Valdosta      40  24  42  22  42 /  70   0   0   0   0
Cross City    44  26  46  23  46 /  90   0   0   0   0
Apalachicola  49  29  47  27  47 /  20   0   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Winter Weather Advisory until noon EST /11 AM CST/ today for
     Coastal Dixie-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-Coastal Wakulla-
     Gadsden-Inland Dixie-Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-Inland
     Wakulla-Liberty.

     Winter Storm Warning until noon EST today for Coastal Jefferson-
     Coastal Taylor-Inland Jefferson-Inland Taylor-Lafayette-
     Leon-Madison.

GA...Winter Weather Advisory until noon EST today for Decatur-Grady-
     Mitchell-Turner-Worth.

     Winter Storm Warning until noon EST today for Ben Hill-Berrien-
     Brooks-Colquitt-Cook-Irwin-Lanier-Lowndes-Thomas-Tift.

AL...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 AM EST
     Thursday for Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL
     from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Mexico Beach
     FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa
     Walton County Line FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...Barry
SHORT TERM...McD
LONG TERM...McD
AVIATION...Barry
MARINE...McD
FIRE WEATHER...Barry
HYDROLOGY...McD

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 winter storm, 7 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Gadsden

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Gadsden forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.580, -84.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Coastal Wakulla

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Wakulla forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Inland Wakulla

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Wakulla forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Coastal Franklin

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 29.812, -84.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Inland Franklin

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 29.812, -84.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Liberty

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Winter Weather, Coastal Dixie

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Dixie forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 29.581, -83.187 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Leon

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Leon forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.458, -84.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Coastal Jefferson

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.424, -83.900 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Inland Jefferson

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.424, -83.900 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Coastal Taylor

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.020, -83.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Inland Taylor

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.020, -83.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Madison

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.444, -83.470 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lafayette

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Lafayette forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 29.986, -83.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Inland Dixie

When: January 3, 3:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Dixie forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 29.581, -83.187 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, January 2018

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 726725, 726726, 726727, 726728, 726729, 726730, 726731, 726735, 726736, 726737, 726738, 726739, 726740, 726741, 726742.