PANAMA CITY – Despite winter storm watches in nearby counties, Bay County is unlikely to see snow this week.
A winter storm watch is in effect from Tuesday evening until Wednesday afternoon for Holmes County, northern Walton County and parts of Alabama and Georgia. These areas may experience freezing rain that may turn to sleet or snow, accumulating as much as half an inch of snow or ice and causing driving conditions, according to officials at the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.
While Bay County will experience colder temperatures, with a high on Tuesday of around 43 degrees, officials at the National Weather Service said it was unlikely the area will experience snow, though the forecast calls for a 60-70 percent chance of precipitation.
“In the interior part of the county, there might be a mix of freezing rain and rain,” an NWS official said, but coastal areas will be “too mild” to see anything but rain.
Temperatures in the area will be dropping over the next few days, however, with a low of 36 degrees expected Monday and falling to 28 degrees by Wednesday. Residents should remember to bring outdoor pets and potted plants inside and wrap up other plants and exposed pipes to avoid freezing.
Temperatures are expected to rise again after Wednesday.