Shelters

The odds of significant cold, coastal, and marine impacts across South Florida this weekend and beyond continues to increase. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect for the Lake Okeechobee region and coastal Palm beach County and a Freeze Watch is in effect for inland Collier, Miami Dade and Broward counties. Wind chills could drop into the 20s across all of South Florida early Sunday morning. Very breezy conditions are expected on Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning as the strong cold front pushes through the area. Sustained winds 15-25 mph could gust up to 40 mph, with highest winds likely along the immediate coastlines. A Gale Watch is in effect for local waters beginning on Saturday afternoon and evening. Sustained winds of 30-40 knots with higher gusts is possible across the Atlantic and Gulf waters through Sunday afternoon. Wave heights could peak as high as 12 feet across the Gulf and Atlantic waters during the day on Sunday as well.

A forecast for frigid temperatures for Southwest Florida has some areas planning shelter accommodations.

Sarasota County Emergency Management officials have coordinated with municipal and community partners to provide cold weather shelter for those individuals in need due to the predicted drop in temperatures. Those attending should bring their own sleeping materials.

Due to temperatures in Collier County over the next 24 hours predicted at 40 degrees or less, several sites will serve as warming shelters for those in need.

Cold weather conditions continuing through the end of the week has preparations being made for sheltering availability by Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota officials.

A shelter will open in Charlotte County Saturday in advance of cold weather forecast for the region.

As the region prepares for Hurricane Milton to make landfall along the Gulf Coast, it is important to know the difference between pre-storm evacuation centers/shelters and post-storm shelters.Evacuation centers/shelters provide a place to stay for those who don’t feel safe in their own homes; for people who are displaced and those living in a mandatory evacuation zone.

The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures in the low 40s with wind chill dropping them to the 30s in Southwest Florida has prompted Charlotte and Lee county officials to make cold weather shelters available.

Temperatures likely in the 40s with wind chills to the 30s prompted a cold weather shelter to open in Charlotte County.

As many as 300 people will wake up Thanksgiving morning in a shelter in North Fort Myers. Many of those displaced by Hurricane Ian have been living in shelters for nearly eight weeks.