HOLT, Fla., Dec. 20, 2022—The National Weather Service is forecasting a surge of arctic air to bring bitterly cold temperatures to the area late this week and into the Christmas weekend.

An arctic cold front is forecast to sweep across the western Florida panhandle late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

Dangerously cold temperatures are expected to settle into the area following the passage of the cold front late this week and into Christmas weekend.

Low temperatures early Friday morning will likely fall into lows in the mid 20s to lower 30s across the western Florida panhandle.

Record low high temperatures Friday could be set for selected sites in the region. Crestview recorded its second coldest day with a high temperature of 41 degrees Dec. 23, 1989.

The coldest temperatures are expected Friday night with temperatures forecast to fall into the teens over most areas along and north of Interstate 10, with freezing temperatures in the 20s expected all the way to the immediate coast and beaches.

Highs on Christmas Eve are currently forecast to only reach into the 30s over most of our region, while lows early Christmas morning once again fall into the teens and 20s.

Highs on Christmas Day are expected to remain cold in the 30s to lower 40s across the area.

Blustery northwesterly winds are expected to bring dangerously low wind chills in the single digits and teens across the region Friday morning through Christmas morning, with a few spots over interior areas potentially below zero.

Widespread hard freeze watches and wind chill watches for this outbreak of arctic air will likely become necessary across much of our region and may be issued later today or tonight, according to the NWS.

Staff and National Weather Service forecast