ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is bracing for freezing temperatures ahead of and during the winter holidays.
Counties across the state are opening up shelters ahead of what could be the coldest air to come through Central Florida in years, according to News 6 meteorologist Jonathan Kegges.
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With the potential for frost and below freezing temperatures high due to the Arctic blast, it’s good to know where to find a cold weather shelter in your area.
You can find a list of shelters below. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
Flagler County
The Sheltering Tree will open its shelter Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at the Church on the Rock, which opens if the overnight temperature dips below 40 degrees.
The Church on the Rock
- 2200 N. State St. Bunnell, FL
- Open from 5:30 p.m-8 a.m.
There is also transportation available for those who need it. People who need it should go to the following stops along one of two pickup routes:
PALM COAST
- Dollar General at Palm Coast Town Center: 3:30 p.m.
- Near the McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100: 4 p.m.
- Dollar Tree off Palm Coast Parkway near I-95: 4:30 p.m.
- Palm Coast Main Branch Library: 4:45 p.m.
BUNNELL
- Bunnell Free Clinic: 4:30 p.m.
- First United Methodist Church in Bunnell: 4:30 p.m.
Lake County
The county plans to activate its its warming shelter starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, and its cold weather shelters starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 26, at the following locations:
Trinity Assembly of God
- 200 Urick St., Fruitland Park, FL
- Open 24 hours a day
LifePointe Church
- 3551 E. Orange Ave., Eustis, FL
- Open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Salvation Army warming shelter
- 2605 South St., Leesburg, FL
- Open from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Dec. 26
LakeXpress, Lake County’s fixed route transportation service, will provide free rides to those traveling to a cold weather shelter. The shelter route schedule will be posted before Friday, Dec. 23 on the county’s social media pages and website.
Residents without access to the LakeXpress fixed route bus service or the pickup locations listed and need transportation to travel to a cold weather shelter must call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612 by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, to arrange transportation.
Orange County
The county is supporting the Homeless Services Network in notifying residents about cold weather warming centers, which are available starting Friday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 26.
HSN will activate the pet-friendly centers at Coalition for the Homeless, Orlando Union Outreach Mission men’s facility and the Salvation Army and all local homeless shelters will operate beyond normal capacity.
Orange County overflow sites, located at Barnett and Goldenrod parks, will only be used if capacity is reached at HSN’s main warming sites. More information about each site can be found below.
Coalition for the Homeless
- 18 N. Terry Ave., Orlando, FL
- Open from 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, to Monday, Dec. 26 (closing time depends on the forecast)
Orlando Union Outreach Mission men’s facility
- 3300 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL
- Open from 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, to Monday, Dec. 26 (closing time depends on the forecast)
The Salvation Army
- 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando, FL
- Open from 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, to Monday, Dec. 26 (closing time depends on the forecast)
Covenant House (Youth 18-21 ONLY)
- 5931 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL
- Hours not provided
LYNX will operate a free bus service to the shelters and warming center on Friday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Dec. 25, although service will be limited Christmas Day. Pets are allowed on the buses and at the shelters if they are in carriers or crates. Those in need of a free LYNX driver should tell the driver they are going to a cold weather or warming shelter.
Osceola County
The county will activate its cold weather shelter on Friday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 24 at 8:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
- 1000 Ohio Ave., St. Cloud, FL
- Opens at: 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24 and 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 25
LYNX buses will provide free rides to those traveling to a cold weather shelter. Riders just need to alert LYNX drivers they are traveling to a cold weather shelter. Those interested can sign up for cold weather alerts on their phone by texting ‘coldweather’ to 888777.
Osceola County is still in need of volunteers to help open the shelter at First United Methodist Church on Christmas. Anyone interested should contact Larry Finch at 407-466-8103. Shifts are as follows: 5-9 p.m., 9 p.m.-1 a.m., 1-5 a.m. and 5-8 a.m.
Seminole County
The Homeless Services Network will operate Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford beyond normal capacity in response to the cold weather.
Rescue Outreach Mission
- 1701 W 13th St., Sanford, FL
- Hours not provided
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