The county’s Division of Emergency Management will open the Belle Glade cold-weather shelter from 7 p.m. Jan. 15 to 9 a.m. Jan. 16 “in order to protect those seeking refuge from the cold during the overnight period,” according to a county news release. Temperatures will rapidly drop tonight.

A Freeze Warning and Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee counties from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for inland Palm Beach County from 3 a.

Flagler county officials said it plans to open its cold weather shelter, The Sheltering Tree, on Thursday and Friday night. It is located at the Rock Transformation Center at 2200 N. State St. in Bunnell. For more information, call 386-437-3258.

Climatologically, it is not supposed to snow in South Florida. The laid-back tropics are a region constantly gaining energy from the sun, and with Florida's temperatures moderated by warm water on three sides, snow is unusual even in the northern reaches of the state.

Municipalities on the Treasure Coast are preparing to open cold weather shelters this week as temperatures are expected to fall below 40 degrees.