Bundle up: Series of cold fronts hit Southwest Florida this week

Sarasota and Manatee counties are sounding warnings about additional frigid weather heading our way this week.

Sarasota County Emergency Management officials have coordinated with municipal and community partners to provide a cold weather shelter in North Port for those in need due to the predicted drop in temperatures.

As of noon Tuesday, the county says the Salvation Army in downtown Sarasota will not take in winter refugees; the county’s agreement with the Salvation Army stipulates overnight temperatures must reach below 40 degrees for that shelter to open. 

The low temperature Tuesday night is forecast to be 43 degrees, with wind chill as low as 36 degrees, the National Weather Service says.

Manatee County Emergency Management sent a National Weather Service alert to officials in its network. 

The National Weather Service says on top of a cold, wet Tuesday, a cold front will move through west central and southwest Florida Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, bringing even colder temperatures and rain.

A third dry cold front will move through the area later in the week, bringing the possibility of more snow in the Panhandle and freezing temperatures and frost potentially all the way down into the Tampa Bay area this weekend.

Freezing rain will be possible Wednesday morning from 3-10 a.m, forecasters say. Temperatures will be in the low 40s every morning through Sunday, with the coldest conditions Friday and Saturday mornings.

The weather service warns that these conditions will increase the risk of hypothermia further for those outside for prolonged periods.

Freezing conditions could also kill crops, sensitive vegetation and possibly damage outdoor, unprotected plumbing.