Major Winter Storm Tuesday With Several Inches Of Snow, Extreme Cold
January 21, 2025
WINTER STORM WARNING
- A MAJOR winter storm is becoming increasingly likely across the area
- This has the potential to be an HISTORIC winter storm for the southern half of the area
- Winter Storm WARNING is in effect for the area through 6 a.m. Wednesday
- The timing of accumulating snow begins late Tuesday morning and continues into the evening.
- Heaviest accumulations are expected midday Tuesday through the late afternoon.
- Most likely snow amounts are between 2-4 inches, although locally up to 5 inches of snow is possible (highest totals to the south)
- Major impacts are likely across much of the area
- Even areas along the coastline are likely to remain mostly snow. There is still a small possibility of sleet mixing in along the coast
- Extreme temperatures around 15 degrees are expected Tuesday night
- Wind chills remain below freezing tonight through midday Wednesday
- Strong wind gusts, especially near the coast, could reduce visibilities to less than a mile at times in the snow
- Many locations may not see temperatures rise above freezing on Tuesday as the snow moves into the area
DETAILED FORECAST
Tuesday: Snow, mainly after noon. High near 31. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 15. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. North wind around 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Calm wind.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.
Schools, Colleges Closed Tuesday And Wednesday
January 21, 2025
Here is school closure information for the North Escambia area:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY (FL) SCHOOLS
- Escambia County Public Schools — All schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday night’s board meeting is canceled and will be rescheduled.
- Pensacola State College — PSC has closed all offices and cancelled all on-campus classes and activities on Tuesday and Wednesday. Online classes and synchronous online classes will not be cancelled, and will continue as usual. Essential personnel contacted by their supervisor should report as directed. A further announcement will be made about Wednesday.
- University of West Florida — All UWF locations will close on Tuesday and Wednesday. This includes all classes, events, campus activities and online courses. University officials will continue to monitor and update the campus community about the forecast for Wednesday, January 22.
- Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center — Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY (AL) SCHOOLS
- Escambia County (AL) public schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, and Wednesday, January 22. All sports practices, games, and extracurricular activities scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday are canceled.
- Escambia Academy will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- All Santa Rosa County Schools and district offices will be closed on both Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22. All district after school activities for Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22 are cancelled as well.
Check back on this story for any updates.
Need A Cold Weather Shelter?
January 21, 2025
There are no public cold weather shelters in North Escambia, but there are shelters available to Escambia County residents in Pensacola to provide relief from frigid temperatures.
Escambia County (FL):
- Waterfront Rescue Mission
- Men and women
- Open 24 hours, with expanded capacity and no charge during cold weather events
- 348 W. Herman St., Pensacola
- REAP Max-Well Respite Center
- Women with children
- Open daily, with expanded capacity during cold weather events
- Intake is from 4-6 p.m. (after 6 p.m. if accompanied by law enforcement)
- 2200 N. Palafox St., Pensacola
- My Father’s Vineyard
- Men and women (no children)
- Intake is from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (must leave by 7 a.m., with ECAT providing free transportation to Waterfront starting at 7 a.m.)
- Open Sunday, Jan. 19 through Wednesday night (Jan. 22), with operations continuing if temperatures continue to be 32 degrees or below
- 7895 Pensacola Blvd., Pensacola
Escambia County Area Transit will provide free transportation between My Father’s Vineyard and Waterfront Rescue Mission, which allows those seeking shelter to easily travel between the overnight shelter at the church and the designated warming center at Waterfront Rescue.
Through the county’s cold weather sheltering plan, Waterfront Rescue Mission is the central receiving point for anyone in need of emergency shelter when the temperature drops to 40 degrees or less. Waterfront then coordinates with other partner agencies to ensure anyone needing cold weather shelter can be accommodated.
Escambia County (AL):
- Restoration House of Atmore, 1010 East Nashville Avenue.
- Shelter will be open, Florida residents are welcome.
Santa Rosa County:
- Ferris Hill Baptist Church
- Intake from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (After 8:30 if accompanied by law enforcement)
- 6848 Chaffin St., Milton.
Escambia County Urging Drivers To Stay Off The Road
January 21, 2025
Escambia County in encouraging residents to say home and off the roadways Tuesday and Wednesday as snow and ice are expected to create hazardous driving conditions. The county is under a winter storm warning into Wednesday morning.
“Our message is simple: Stay home and stay off the roadways,” Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said. “The safety of our residents is our top priority, and road conditions will be unsafe for drivers over the next couple of days due to snow and ice. It is not worth the risk – please stay home and stay safe.”
According to NWS Mobile, snow is expected in Northwest Florida by Tuesday afternoon before tapering off in the late evening hours.
Escambia County Public Works crews will sanded bridges late Monday afternoon to prepare for snow and ice.
File photo.
Using A Space Heater? Here Are Some Need To Know Tips
January 21, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue is encouraging residents to practice space heater safety and know the potential risks associated with home heating equipment.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths and space heaters account for 4 out of 5 home heating fire deaths.
Follow these tips to stay safe while heating your home:
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 ft. away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
- Portable space heaters should be turned OFF every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
- Never plug a space heater in a power strip.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
For portable electric heaters:
- Place them on a solid, flat surface, away from high traffic areas and doorways.
- Use and purchase heaters with an automatic shut off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.
- Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
- Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections; replace before using.
Heating Fire Facts:
- Most home heating fire deaths (86%) involved stationary or portable space heaters.
- The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (27%) was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
- The leading factor contributing to ignition for home heating fire deaths (54%) was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.
- Nearly half (48%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.
Need a free smoke detector in Escambia County? Call (850) 595-HERO.
Early Voting Sites Closed Tuesday And Wednesday
January 21, 2025
All early votings sites in Escambia County are closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the winter weather.
The seven early voting locations will reopen Thursday, January 23 through Saturday, January 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Early voting sites are:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Eligible voters may choose any one of the seven available locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device.
Three Early Vote locations that were open during the 2024 Election Cycle will not be open for the 2025 Special Primary Election. Those three locations are:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts in Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center
The 2025 Special Primary Election is for Republican voters only. The State of Florida holds closed primary elections, meaning only registered Republicans will be eligible for the 2025 Special Primary Election.
Pictured: Early voting at the Molino Community Center during the 2024 election cycle. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge
Attorney General Activates Price Gouging Hotline During Winter Storm State Of Emergency
January 21, 2025
Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline following a state of emergency declaration because of a winter storm.
Florida’s price gouging law applies to items and services essential to getting ready for, or recovering from, a storm within the areas of a declared state of emergency.
During a storm-related declared state of emergency, state law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities, such as equipment, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, and water needed as a direct result of the weather event.
Anyone who suspects price gouging can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. For more information on price gouging, access Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging resource by clicking here.
Extreme Freezing Weather — Protecting Pets, Plants, Pipes And Other Tips
January 21, 2025
With freezing weather, take necessary precautions to protect pipes, pets and plants, and check on elderly friends and neighbors.
The low Tuesday night is forecast to be 15 degrees in North Escambia.
Here are ways to stay safe during cold temperatures, courtesy of the American Red Cross:
- Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
- Know the signs of hypothermia — confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. If someone has these symptoms, they should get immediate medical attention.
- Watch for symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin.
- Bring the pets indoors. If that’s not possible, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Avoid frozen pipes — run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
- Do not use a stove or oven to heat the home.
- Space heaters should sit on a level, hard surface and anything flammable should be kept at least three feet away.
- If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
And here are a few extra details and tips from ECUA on protecting pipes against the freeze:
- Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Pipes located in unheated areas of your house, such as a garage or crawl space under the house or in the attic, are subject to freezing. If you have time to do this before freezing temperatures arrive, wrap these pipes with insulation materials made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detach all hoses from faucets and allow them to drain. This action guards against the water in the hose or pipe from freezing and bursting the faucet or pipe to which it is connected.
- Run a trickle of water: When forecasts call for sustained and / or severe freezing temperatures, run a thin trickle of water from the faucet furthest from the water line coming to your house. Usually this is in a room at the back of the house or outside, in the yard. Allowing the water to circulate through your home’s plumbing helps to keep it from freezing. Some consider this a waste of water but the cost of the water used is extremely slight compared to repairing broken pipes and the resulting water damage.
- Remember the backflow preventer: Residents and business owners who have backflow preventers on their properties for water lines, fire lines, irrigation systems, and swimming pools need to protect their backflow preventers from freeze as well. Extended freezes can burst the body of the backflow assembly, rendering it useless. Wrap these pipes with insulation materials, made especially for this purpose. These materials can be found in most hardware stores or home improvement centers. If the device and the water line are not in use at this time (i.e., irrigation system or swimming pool lines), shut off the water supply line and drain the backflow device.
FDOT Conducting Winter Weather Operations
January 20, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) began winter weather operations about 2 p.m. Monday across Northwest Florida in preparation for freezing temperatures and precipitation forecast in the region.
“With winter weather conditions, bridges are known to ice over before roadways do. To help with this, motorists may notice an increased number of FDOT vehicles on state routes as crews deploy various tankers and bridge deck sprayers to apply anti-icing products on bridges and overpasses to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement surface. The anti-icing products allows any potential ice layer to melt more quickly and reduces the amount of time required to restore the roads to a clear, dry state,” Ian Satter, FDOT public information director said.
FDOT will collaborate with state and local law enforcement to evaluate roads for closure if icy conditions make it challenging to maintain a drivable roadway. Coordination also continues with neighboring states to ensure a seamless transportation network.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Markavia Johnson Named MLK Essay Contest Winner
January 20, 2025
Monday, Markavia Johnson was named the winner of the Century-Flomaton Improvement Committee’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest.
Here is her essay, in its entirety:
I am Markavia Johnson. I am 18 years old and a senior at Northview High School. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that African Americans needed to be treated equally. He saw the mistreatment and inequality toward African Americans and decided to take a stand. He decided to be the person to bring national attention to what everybody knew and that was that people of color did not have the same rights as white America. Dr. King organized meetings, marches and protests to discuss how to make the changes. He even went to jail to fight for freedom and justice for minorities. He died.
As I grew up, I heard and read about Dr. King and how people of color used to be treated in America. He wanted us to be included and have the right to participate in whatever we wanted to do.
I had an experience when I was playing volleyball in the gym at my school. As I looked around, I was the only African American in the game. It made me think that Dr. King worked hard and went through a lot. He went to jail and even died so we could have the right to be included and have the same rights as other races of people. I want us to remember that they killed him and all he wanted was for us to have the rights that they had.
Knowing what he did really encouraged me to never give up on my hopes and dreams, even it is hard. It encouraged me to work even harder to accomplish my goals in school, even if it is hard. I finished all of my core classes early and I passed all of my important tests in order to get my diploma. I kept the faith through it all, saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.
[Related story and photos:Your Brother's Keeper: Celebrating The Legacy Of Martin Luther King, Jr.]
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.