ORLANDO, Fla. - As a rare winter storm system approaches, Florida is bracing for its impacts.

State of emergency declared

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Monday ahead of the system, which is expected to bring snow and ice to parts of the southeastern United States, including northern Florida.

The order followed President Donald Trump's inaugural remarks and referred to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."

The order activates the National Guard and Florida Guard, as needed to respond to the emergency, and allows the governor to "suspend the effect of any statute, rule, or order that would in any way prevent, hinder or delay any mitigation, response, or recovery action necessary to cope with this emergency."

DeSantis held a press conference Tuesday morning from the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to give updates on the approaching storm system.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks ahead of winter weather, arctic freeze

Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a news conference Tuesday morning in Tallahassee to give updates on Florida’s State of Emergency as an arctic blast approaches.

In the press conference, DeSantis said the expected conditions in north Florida are projected to constitute a major disaster.

The Florida Department of Transportation already has started mobilizing snow plows, de-icing equipment and spray rigs across north Florida in anticipation of icy conditions.

Tuesday winter storm updates

In Florida, winter storm and freeze warnings both remain in place , and snow also is expected today.

Today, expect rainy and overcast conditions for Central Florida, with temperatures well below normal. Be sure to have an extra layer on, and keep the umbrella handy.

Highs for today are expected to be in the mid-to-upper 50s, with rain coverage continuing to increase through the day and overnight, as temperatures drop into the low 40s.

Orlando Weather Forecast: Jan. 21, 2025

FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner shares an update on the Tuesday forecast in Orlando and the Central Florida region.

Will it snow today in Florida?

Portions of Florida are under a rare winter storm warning, with multiple inches of snow projected to fall on Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

The winter storm, which is sweeping across the southeast, is expected to bring frigid temperatures to parts of Florida, as well as the potential for snow, ice, sleet and/or freezing rain.

Both a winter storm and freeze warning remain in place for areas north of Marion County.

Snow is expected in the Panhandle and the northern edges of Florida through today and tonight, along with sleet for areas as far south as northern Marion County.

The rest of Central Florida will only see rain. To be clear, snow is not forecast to fall in Orlando or Central Florida.

How will the winter weather impact travel?

The far western Florida Panhandle is where the highest snowfall totals are projected to fall. Some areas could see up to 4 inches of snow, which would cause serious travel issues.

The same system that's bringing the cold and ice to Florida is shutting down airports in other cities, such as Houston. This means Orlando International Airport already is dealing with weather delays.

All five flights from Orlando to New Orleans set to take off today now are canceled, and one flight heading to Pensacola around noon also is canceled.

Ten flights heading to Houston today already have been grounded, since the Houston Airport closed at midnight.

Many travelers will have to get a lot more comfortable waiting out the winter storm.

Travelers flying into Orlando will experience similar impacts to their travel plans today.

One flight from Pensacola to Orlando has already been canceled, and New Orleans has canceled seven flights that were scheduled to head to Orlando.

Today, 11 flights from Houston to Orlando also are now grounded.

If you have flight plans today, make sure to check your flight status with the airline before heading to the airport.

Weather delays impact outgoing flights

The same system that's bringing the cold and ice to Florida is shutting down airports in other cities, such as Houston.

How to drive safely in snow

The approaching winter weather also will present hazardous driving conditions across Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

A complete list of tips for driving in winter weather can be found here .

How will the arctic air impact schools?

In preparation for the winter weather, school districts, colleges, and universities are closing their doors ahead of the storm.

A full list of the schools impacted can be found here.

Will theme parks remain open?

SeaWorld Orlando was one of the first of the theme parks to announce closure due to the approaching storm system.

Officials said the park will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Disney's Blizzard Beach also announced a closure for Monday and Tuesday. The water park is expected to open back up Wednesday.

However, low temperatures and rain are expected to occur in the Walt Disney World area for the rest of the week, so the two-day closure could be extended.

Cold weather shelters opening

Across Florida, cold weather shelters are beginning to open to help protect residents from the harsh conditions.

Orlando 7-Day Weather Forecast

FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar and Live Weather Cameras

Track live when storms move across your area using the FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar below. You can also watch as heavy rain moves across Central Florida on our Live Weather Cameras' page here .

More radar maps from FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar

The Source: This story was written based on previous reporting, as well as information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team.