GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Gainesville residents left a mark on HCA North Florida’s new hospital project this morning. Residents joined hospital leaders to sign the final beam of the hospital coming to Southwest 41st Boulevard. The hospital will include a surgical services department, 60 beds, and imaging services.

The 38,000-square-foot expanded facility includes a larger retail store, a drive-thru donation center, and an enhanced GoodCareers Center.

North Florida is under a winter storm warning, with cold rain and possible freezing rain in Central Florida. Snow is likely in the western Panhandle, creating hazardous travel conditions on I-10 and I-75.

On Tuesday, Alachua County commissioners consider the status of the Florence Landfill. Currently, the county has only extended the old permit but landfill owners say they are operating under a state permit. They settled a legal case with neighbors in mid 2024 agreeing to close the facility in eight years. A protest is expected.

Parts of Florida are under a winter storm warning with multiple inches of snow expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The major winter storm moved east Wednesday, spreading heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the eastern Carolinas. The precipitation hitting parts of the Deep South came as a blast of arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.

Writing this forecast as a snow lover feels like I’m writing weather fanfic, but the reality may be ones for the records books.

Snow in Florida is quite rare but not unheard of. The last time parts of the Sunshine State picked up a dusting of snow was back in 2018. Tonight's storm will bring a lot more than a dusting, even rivaling the winter storm of 1989, which blanketed north Florida with snow and ice days before Christmas.

With Arctic air coming down from the north, there will likely be frozen precipitation from Tuesday night into Wednesday in the Panhandle and North Florida. The Arctic air arrives Sunday night in Florida, with rain, freezing rain, sleet or snow arriving in the state by Tuesday night. Freezing rain is possible in the Ocala and Gainesville areas.

The Jacksonville Dolphins (13-7, 7-1 ASUN) face the North Florida Ospreys (10-11, 3-5 ASUN) in a clash of ASUN teams at 6:00 PM ET on Saturday. The game airs on ESPN+.Buy tickets for Jacksonville

The PIT Count is funded by a federal planning grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to Jacob Torner, vice president of programs for the CoC’s lead agency, TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness. HUD mandates the PIT Count as part of a nationwide effort, executed by local CoCs.

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