A forecast for colder weather was issued Sunday afternoon for later Sunday, Monday and beyond across the state includes a cold weather advisory near Lake Okeechobee and has prompted several counties to start extending sheltering activities started last last week.
Pinellas-Hardee-Highlands-DeSoto-Pasco-Hillsborough; Coastal Manatee- Sarasota-Charlotte-Lee; Inland Manatee-Sarasota-Charlotte, Lee — Including the cities of Sarasota, Myakka City, North Port, Anna Maria Island, Punta Gorda, Bowling Green, Fort Myers, Englewood, Sanibel, Sebring, Westchase, Parrish, Wauchula, Babcock Ranch, Zolfo Springs, Captiva, Cape Coral, Placid Lakes, Bradenton, Venice, St. Petersburg, Port Charlotte, Apollo Beach, Arcadia, Hudson, Tampa, Clearwater, Avon Park, Lehigh Acres, Largo, Port Richey, and Lakewood Ranch
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The National Weather Service said: COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EST MONDAY.
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 27 expected.
* WHERE...Portions of Southwest and west central Florida.
* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Lee County Government is coordinating with partner agencies for cold-weather outreach.
The Lee County Department of Human & Veteran Services, Lee County Transit (LeeTran) and additional partners typically coordinate plans during timeframes in which the temperature drops below 40 degrees, true temperature or with windchill, for a period of time.
Plans include:
- Through Monday, Jan. 19: The Salvation Army will provide a limited number of single beds on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals seeking relief from cold weather conditions. Shelter will be available beginning the evening of Thursday, Jan. 15, through the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 20. Individuals in need of shelter are encouraged to arrive for intake between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at 2400 Edison Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901. The Salvation Army will reassess capacity daily through Monday, Jan. 19, and will continue accepting individuals as space allows. For more information, please contact The Salvation Army at 239-334-3745.
Salvation Army details:
- What: Salvation Army Cold Weather Warming Station and Shelter
- When: Thursday January 15, through Tuesday January 20
- Where: Center of Hope, 2400 Edison Avenue, Fort Myers
- Who: Open to those needing shelter from the cold
- Monday, Jan. 19 and Tuesday, Jan. 20: LeeTran will provide Warming Buses at the locations listed below.
- 6 a.m. - 8 a.m., Rosa Parks Transfer Station (2250 Widman Way, Fort Myers, FL 33919)
- 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., Lehigh Acres Park & Ride (1121 Village Lakes Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33972)
- 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., Cape Coral Transfer Station (820 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33904)
- Monday, Jan. 19: Warming Stations will be open at the locations listed below.
- 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tice United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (5100 Tice St., Fort Myers, FL 33905)
- 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., West Cape Coral United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (1499 SW. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, FL 33991)
- Tuesday, Jan. 20: Housing, Outreach and Treatment (HOT) teams will be in the community connecting with individuals experiencing homelessness to provide resources and distribute cold-weather supplies, including jackets, socks, blankets and hand warmers.
- Tuesday, Jan. 20: Warming Stations will be open at the locations listed below.
- 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., East Fort Myers United Way Resiliency Hub - Children's Advocacy Center of SWFL (4040 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916)
- 9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Charleston Park United Way Resiliency Hub - Goodwill Industries (2541 Charleston Park Drive, Alva, FL 33920)
- 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Dunbar United Way Resiliency Hub at Community Cooperative (3429 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916)
- 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tice United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (5100 Tice St., Fort Myers, FL 33905)
- 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Harlem Heights United Way Resiliency Hub at The Heights Center (15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908)
- 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., West Cape Coral United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (1499 SW. Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral, FL 33991)
- 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sanibel United Way Resiliency Hub at F.I.S.H of Sanibel-Captiva (2422 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957)
- 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Pine Manor United Way Resiliency Hub - Pine Manor Improvement Association (5547 10th Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907)
- 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fort Myers Regional Library (2450 First St. Fort Myers, FL 33901)
- 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., North Fort Myers Library/Parks and Recreation (2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903)
Lee County Human & Veteran Services’ (HVS) Reach app, which is a free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play, is another way individuals experiencing homelessness can garner information. App users should sign up to receive push alerts to receive timely updates.
Lee County’s coordinated entry phone line is available to connect individuals to services and resources. Call 239-533-7996 or visit www.leegov.com/dhs.
Lee County Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Management staff is monitoring the cold temperatures and encourages residents to monitor updates from the National Weather Service.
In Charlotte County, the Charlotte CARE Center (formerly the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), 1476 Kenesaw St. in Port Charlotte will provide shelter to persons needing refuge from the cold.
Guests will need to pre-register by calling 941-627-4313 and arrive by 8 p.m.
For information, contact Ashley Turner at 941-833-5610 or Ashley.Turner@CharlotteCountyFL.gov.
In Collier County, the Emergency Management team is in regular contact with St. Matthews House and the Immokalee Friendship House for forecasted cold weather events.
St. Matthews House shelter locations include the Campbell Lodge on Airport Road South in Naples and the Immokalee Friendship Lodge on West Main Street in Immokalee. The sites will be open through Jan. 21.
People planning to stay at the shelters, which open to the public when temperatures drop to 55 degrees or colder, will be required to take a breathalyzer test and are advised to check in by 8 p.m. any of those nights.
St. Matthew’s House will provide beds, pillows, blankets, snacks, and coffee.
Sarasota County Emergency Management officials have coordinated with municipal and community partners to provide cold weather shelter tonight, Sunday, January 18th, 2026, for those individuals in need due to the predicted drop in temperatures.
The Salvation Army – Center of Hope, 1400 10th St., Sarasota, will conduct their cold weather operation plan tonight, Sunday, January 18th, 2026.
Dinner will be served from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Guests will need to leave campus afterward and may return at 7 p.m. for shelter entry. Guests must be checked in by 8:30 p.m. Showers will be available from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and all guests will be required to present a valid ID for identification at check-in. Breakfast will be provided to-go in the morning, and all guests will need to depart campus by 6 a.m.
Breeze Routes 2, 7, 8, or 99 operating on normal schedules will arrive within about two blocks of the Salvation Army on 10th Street.
Visit www.scgov.net/breeze for information on Breeze services. The Breeze Rider app can also be used to check bus arrival times and plan routes.
Emergency Management officials remind residents that pets should not be left outside during the cold weather. Those who need to be outside overnight or during the early morning hours are encouraged to dress in several warm layers and limit skin exposure to the wind. Sarasota County Fire Department officials advise using extreme caution when heating your home, as the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases during very cold weather due to the improper use of heating devices. More heating safety tips can be found here.
For more information, call 311 or 941-861-5000, or visit scgov.net.
Sarasota County Fire Department officials advise using extreme caution when heating your home, as the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases during very cold weather due to the improper use of heating devices. More heating safety tips can be found here.
You can check other county emergency management information here.
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