Florida in winter’s grip as forecast eyes ice storm in South
Updated Jan. 20, 2026, 9:10 p.m. ET
- Another wave of arctic air is expected to bring cold weather to the Florida Big Bend region this weekend.
- While Tallahassee is only expected to see rain, there is a growing threat of a significant ice storm for other southern states.
- Portions of Georgia and Alabama could experience freezing rain and ice, with potential travel impacts for those heading north.
Keep those heaters on and those coats at the ready, Tallahassee, as cold weather returns to the Big Bend – bringing frosty temperatures and a low threat of regional winter weather impacts this weekend.
According to social media posts by the National Weather Service of Tallahassee, another push of arctic air is moving into the Deep South over the weekend.
This report comes just days after the state capital had a close call with a winter storm that dusted Marianna all the way west to Pensacola. It was a far cry from the winter wonderland that brought historic Florida snowfall to the Panhandle and Big Bend in 2025.
But now, a new and more serious threat is brewing for southern states: The chances of a crippling ice storm associated with a weekend storm across the South are growing.
According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, portions of everywhere from central Texas to the Carolinas could see a barrage of “dangerous ice,” bringing the possibility of widespread tree damage and loss of power.
“The main concern will be the potential for our Georgia counties, mainly along and north of the U.S. 82 corridor (Eufaula-Albany-Tifton), to get impacts along the southern fringe of a significant winter weather event further north in Georgia and Alabama,” local forecasters wrote in their morning discussion.
“If winter weather impacts are experienced all the way south to the U.S. 82 corridor, it would be in the form of freezing rain and ice. It will be worth checking back on the forecast this week as the range of possibilities becomes narrower.”
Plenty of questions remain as the temperature settles in of how much freezing rain or sleet could fall and how far south the storm will reach.
While Tallahassee is expected to only see rain, impacts to the broader region covered by NWS Tallahassee, including South Georgia and Alabama, can’t be totally dismissed. Some models, which are notoriously unreliable this far out, have even suggested the capital city could get a blast of ice.
At this point, however, local meteorologists report that there is a low (0 to 20% chance) of “minor winter weather impacts” that could bring a “few inconveniences to daily life.” Forecasters add that those heading north could face “significant potential travel impacts” in driving or flying.
Additional reporting by USA TODAY says portions of Southern Georgia into Central Florida can expect temperatures around 30 degrees, with some areas falling to the 20s or rising to the 40s. There are still a number of places with freeze watches in place, including Jacksonville, Lake City and Cross City.
Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero.
