Gainesville residents and University of Florida students alike are preparing for a sudden drop in temperatures over the weekend, leaving Gainesville natives grappling with freezing mornings and altered routines.

New alerts are in effect for Florida, and watches will likely become warnings as early as Friday, as extremely cold temperatures are expected to affect the state on Saturday and Sunday.

This will not be the coldest air mass of the season, but it could be the coldest air mass felt in over a decade for some. Some flurries are also possible.

Ocean effect snow is a rare phenomenon in Florida. Similar to lake effect snow, it takes place when cold air moves over warm water.

Cold weather advisories are in effect for Central and Southwest Florida, while the most extreme cold takes over the Panhandle, where temperatures could feel as low as 9 F for some.

While the winter precipitation and dangerous weather stay well to the north, a cold front will bring cooler weather to Florida this coming week. Freeze and cold alerts are in effect.

Most of the storm activity will be done by late evening. Then a cold air mass will sink in place. Freeze and cold alerts are in effect.

The extensive winter storm brewing over the Rockies and Plains will impact millions over the weekend. Florida will be spared from winter precipitation, but not from the cold.

The big winter (and popular) topic is dusted off very early this season as frigid air plunges south next weekend. But what is the Polar Vortex, exactly?

Chance for snow across the western part of the Panhandle as well as mixed precipitation along I-10. Little impact is expected as temperatures will quickly rise, melting any accumulations.