Hurricane Season Now Predicted To Be ‘Well Below Normal’
July 9, 2026
Storm forecasters have further downgraded predictions a little more than a month into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which has so far produced a single named tropical system.
For a season initially anticipated to be “somewhat below-normal,” Colorado State University researchers on Wednesday reduced their projections for the number of named systems and the duration of activity, stating they “now anticipate a well below-normal season.”
A day earlier, the private meteorological firm AccuWeather slightly reduced the range of named storms it predicted to develop in the Atlantic basin.
In both cases the forecast is tied to moderate El Niño conditions likely to intensify into a “strong” El Niño by the mid-September peak of the six-month hurricane season that began June 1.
The term El Niño refers to a warming of the ocean surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and resulting low-level surface winds that can disrupt normal weather patterns across the U.S. and globally.
“Sea surface temperatures across the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic are near their long-term averages,” Colorado State University posted on Wednesday. “We anticipate the powerful El Niño being the dominant factor for the upcoming hurricane season, driving high levels of tropical Atlantic vertical wind shear.”
Vertical wind shear usually helps weaken or disrupt storms.
“El Niño conditions have always been the driver for why we’re expecting numbers near or below the historical average this year,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert. “The stronger the El Niño gets, the fewer named storms we’re likely to get. Back in 2015, we had a strong El Niño and got 11 named storms. I think that is the sweet spot again this year.”
An average storm season has 14 to 15 named storms, with seven reaching hurricane strength.
AccuWeather, which initially forecast between 11 and 16 named storms, now predicts the formation of eight to 14 named storms for the season. Unchanged is the forecast of four to seven hurricanes, with two to four becoming major systems. AccuWeather also forecasts three to five having a direct impact on the U.S.
“The northern and eastern Gulf Coast, the Carolinas, and the northeastern Caribbean remain higher-than-average risk areas, where storms can develop rapidly,” a release from AccuWeather stated.
With a caveat added, the Colorado State University release noted there is a “below-average probability” for a major hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. coastline before adding that “coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season.”
The school’s forecast now sits at 9 named storms, down from 13 when the initial projections were released in April and 11 when updated in June.
Also, the July forecast has four storms reaching hurricane strength, with winds at or above 74 mph, instead of six as in the pre-season outlook and five when the numbers were revised in June.
The ocean and gulf waters are expected to be active with named storms for a total of 35 days, down from 45 days in the June forecast. A typical year has 69.4 days of storm activity.
Meanwhile, the number of storms reaching major strength — Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with sustained winds of 111-mph or greater — was put at one, down from two in the prior forecasts.
As of Wednesday, the only named storm to arise was Tropical Storm Arthur, which brought flash flooding and tornadoes as it made landfall June 18 near Galveston, Texas.
In 2025, the Atlantic produced 13 named storms and five hurricanes, with four reaching Category 3 — winds of 111 mph to 130 mph, and storm surge of 9 feet to 12 feet above normal tide.
None of the 2025 storms, though, made a direct landfall in Florida or the U.S.
From 2022 to 2024, Florida took direct hits from six hurricanes, including four that were Category 3 or stronger.
by Jim Turner, News Service Florida
Woman Accused of Snatching Cash From Man As He Was In A Fight Behind Century Store
July 9, 2026
A Flomaton woman is facing a felony charge after cellphone video surfaced showing her allegedly stealing cash from a man’s pocket while he was actively engaged in a physical brawl behind a local convenience store.
Lori Ann McCaw, 35, was arrested on a warrant charging her with robbery by sudden snatching without a firearm or weapon. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $5,000.
The incident began on the evening of May 13, 2026, when Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a citizen flagging them down near Century Boulevard and Tedder Road. The victim was found bleeding from a gash on his forehead.
According to the arrest report, the victim claimed he had been confronted inside the Southern Pit Stop on Century Boulevard and agreed to go behind the building to settle the dispute. A physical altercation ensued, during which he claimed McCaw attacked him from behind, struck him with a blunt object, and took $2,880 from his wallet.
Initial store surveillance video reviewed by deputies painted a slightly different picture of the fight itself, showing the victim pursuing the other man with a wooden board pulled from a fence row before tackling him to the ground. Store footage did not clearly capture McCaw taking any money, and she initially denied touching the victim or taking any property under oath, claiming she was only at the business to pick up a friend.
While probable cause was initially found to charge the victim for his role in the fight, there was not enough evidence at the time to charge McCaw.
However, the investigation later took a turn when the victim provided law enforcement with a cellphone video captured by a bystander at the scene.
Upon reviewing the new footage, a deputy observed McCaw watching the two men fight on the ground. While the victim was pinned down, McCaw approached and pulled the wallet from his pocket. The video showed the victim kicking at her in a futile attempt to stop the theft. McCaw was then seen walking away, removing cash from the wallet, tossing the wallet back, and stuffing the money into her shirt before leaving the scene, according to the arrest report.
Based on the newly uncovered video evidence, a warrant was issued for her arrest.
FPL Addresses Fourth Of July Power Outages That Left Thousands Without AC
July 9, 2026
Florida Power & Light is addressing outages that left thousands without power on a hot Fourth of July afternoon.
“They are still investigating the cause and determining what, if any, additional work might need to be done to prevent the multiple outages that customers experienced,” said Sarah Gatewood, senior manager, communications for FPL. “We apologize for the interruption of service; we know how frustrating that can be, especially when celebrating a holiday with friends and family. Thank you to our customers for their patience as our team worked to get power restored throughout the afternoon.”
FPL first reported over 4,000 customers without power in an area generally south of Nine Mile Road and north of Longleaf along Pine Forest Road, including Wilde Lake Boulevard and West Detroit Boulevard.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to multiple calls of people stuck in elevators at hotels, and someone stuck in a self-storage business because the door would not open. Several minor traffic crashes were reported at intersections with no power.
Power was restored to a larger portion of that area by about 3:15 p.m., but FPL reported nearly 7,000 customers without power on and north of Nine Mile Road to about West Roberts Road in Cantonment. A later outage of over 3,000 customers was reported in an area centered around Nine Mile Road and Milestone.
NorthEscambia.com readers across the outage area reported that their power would come back on briefly, only to go out a few minutes later.
Most customers had power restored by 5 p.m., according to FPL’s reporting system.
Four More Homers And A Big Inning Lead to Comeback Win For The Wahoos
July 9, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos completed their second consecutive come from behind win by a final score of 8-7 over the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Biscuits wasted no time getting the scoring going against Alex Williams. Two batters into the game, Montgomery took a 2-0 lead after a leadoff single from Austin Overn and a two-run home run off the bat of Brayden Taylor. An inning later, Taylor would strike again in the second inning when he brought home two more runs on a two-run single to give the Biscuits an early 4-0 lead.
Pensacola struck back in the third inning thanks to a Payton Green homer off of Biscuits starter Santiago Suarez. Green’s seventh blast made it a 4-1 game, and the Wahoos offense continued to chip away at Suarez to climb back into the game. They grabbed another run back in the 5th on an RBI single from Jay Beshears and then one more in the 7th courtesy of Connor Caskenette sending his third homer of the year out to left-center to bring the score to 4-3.
Santiago Suarez left in line for the win after pitching a career high 7.0 innings, but Livan Reinoso kept the Wahoos within a run, pitching a scoreless 6th and 7th. Kade Bragg (W, 5-2) entered to pitch the 8th and struggled through the bottom of Montgomery’s order. After retiring the first two batters on two pitches, the Biscuits added two insurance runs on Mac Horvath’s RBI-triple and Gregory Barrios’ RBI-single to bring the Biscuits lead to 6-3. But the Wahoos had been here before and were ready for the challenge.
Cam Cannarella led off with a walk and Cristian Hernández proceeded to absolutely demolish a 2-run blast into Pensacola Bay to bring the Wahoos within a run. Following a groundout, Fenwick Trimble got in on the home run action by launching a no-doubter to left-center field to tie things up at 6-6. Brandon Compton then singled and Connor Caskenette grounded into what looked like an inning ending double play, but he was called safe at first because first baseman Xavier Isaac brought his foot off the bag when making the catch. The safe call proved to be huge when Brendan Jones ripped a double off the top of the wall in center field to score Caskenette and give Pensacola a 7-6 lead. Payton Green added an insurance run on an RBI single.
Holt Jones (S, 2) gave up one run in the 9th, but ultimately locked down his second save of the year, securing the team’s second straight comeback victory with an 8-7 final. Andrew Lindsay (L, 1-1) was tagged with the loss for Montgomery and the Biscuits dropped to 39-44 overall and 4-10 in the second half while the Wahoos improved their record to 44-39 overall and 8-6 in the second half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Thursday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Two Arrested In Connection With Downtown Pensacola Shooting That Killed One, Injured Six Others
July 8, 2026
Two people have been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in downtown Pensacola that claimed one life and injured six others.
Nicholas Lilane Safford, 26, of Daphne, Alabama, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a weapon in public. Lillian Myllicen Meyers, 25, of Pensacola has been charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact. Pensacola Police say a shooter gave her one of the weapons used after she removed it from the scene. Both are being held without bond.
Pensacola Police have not yet made an arrest for homicide, and that at least three shooters were involved in the incident. The investigation is continuing.
The shooting during the early morning hours of July 5 claimed the life of 19-year-old Phillip Devon Monte Sheppard Jr., and all but one of the six other victims have been released from the hospital. Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom said Monday that an ongoing feud led to the shooting.
800-Acre Opt-Out Approved By Escambia Planning Board, Threatening Midwest Sector Plan Future
July 8, 2026
Escambia County’s first and only large-scale attempt at long-range growth planning is on life support following a narrow vote by officials to essentially dismantle its central hub.
The Escambia County Planning Board voted 3-2 on July 7 to recommend approving an opt-out request for more than 800 acres in the heart of the Optional Sector Plan. The targeted acreage, owned by Jerry Long, encompasses virtually the entire area designated as a 300-acre urban-style town center in the original 2011 vision. Board members Ben Nelson and Jonathan Owens voted against the 800-acre opt-out.
The decision now moves to the Escambia County Commission, which will decide whether to transmit the opt-out request to the Florida Department of Commerce for final review.
Authorized under a Florida statute, a sector plan is a state-sanctioned process for long-term planning across massive geographic tracts The Escambia County Optional Sector Plan—originally known as the Midwest Sector Plan—covers approximately 15,000 acres north of I-10, west of Highway 29, and south of Highway 196.
The county first signed a formal agreement for the tract on April 3, 2008, and officially adopted the master blueprint by ordinance on January 20, 2011. This was followed on September 15, 2011, by an ordinance which enacted a Detailed Specific Area Plan (DSAP) to govern specific land uses, infrastructure networks, and environmental protections.
The master plan was envisioned as a public-private partnership driven by the county and three primary landowners, including Long, who sought consistent regional development. The 2011 vision centered on a new four-lane north-south road corridor linking to a new Interstate 10 exit in Beulah. The proposed town center was meant to serve as a pedestrian-friendly, high-density retail, commercial, and residential hub for Cantonment, surrounded by suburban neighborhoods, rural conservation zones, and preserved wetlands.
However, the boundaries adopted in 2011 ultimately extended beyond the three core developers to loop in more than 1,500 individual property owners. The plan has faced steady attrition since 2016, when landowners were first permitted to withdraw their land following complaints over restricted development rights and diminished property values.
Long told the planning board that he sought the exit because the county has failed to advance the plan or secure the necessary infrastructure financing over the past fifteen years, pointing out that critical connection discussions stalled more than a decade ago.
The massive opt-out faced swift pushback. Pensacola attorney Will Dunaway, representing Fred Hemmer, argued against the withdrawal. Hemmer, who owns more than 1,500 acres in the northern part of the sector plan, purchased his property from one of the other original founding landowners. Dunaway stated that a pre-existing memorandum of understanding legally binds the landowners to donate the necessary right-of-way for the primary north-south connector road as development occurs. Opponents also warned that removing the central town center invalidates the traffic data previously used to secure state and federal backing for the upcoming Beulah Road I-10 interchange.
“Long range planning is important. That is the purpose of having a planning board. It is the purpose of having a comprehensive plan. Escambia County put in place a plan for development, and investors have invested in that plan,” Dunaway said. “We do not oppose the concept of opt-outs. It was put in place for the parcels on the periphery in a sense negatively impacted by the plan.”
Click map to enlarge (pdf).
FPL Customers To Share $80 Million Refund Of Hurricane Storm Charges
July 8, 2026
Florida Power & Light customers will receive about $80 million in refunds stemming from charges imposed for storm restoration work from the 2024 hurricane season, state regulators determined Tuesday.
The Public Service Commission approved the refund, which will result in a one-month reduction in base rates to reflect any “revenue over-recovery” charges from FPL, which serves more than 12 million Floridians across 43 counties.
“Maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid requires continued investment, and the commission’s review helps ensure customers pay only the reasonable and necessary costs of restoring service while supporting a reliable electric system for all Floridians,” PSC Chairwoman Gabriella Passidomo Smith said in a released statement.
The state utility regulators approved the initial $1.2 billion repair charge in December 2024, which added about $12 to the average monthly bill during 2025.
The recovery package aimed to cover power restoration costs for Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The money also helped replenish a $150 million storm reserve fund.
Much of the projected costs — about $811.1 million — stemmed from restoring power after Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Oct. 9, 2024 as a Category 3 storm in Sarasota County before crossing the state.
FPL put its costs for Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm that hit the Big Bend region in early August 2024, at $113.5 million. Hurricane Helene, a Category 3 storm that ran up the west coast before making landfall Sept. 26, 2024 in Taylor County, cost $157.8 million.
The approved package was deemed “interim,” as the commission noted in a release at the time that the charges were subject to a refund, with interest, pending further review once the total actual recovery costs were known.
In an agreement reached between FPL and the state Office of Public Counsel, the restoration work for Milton was later calculated at $774.4 million. The work for Helene came in at $167.6 million and the cost for Debby was $88.3 million.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
File photo.
New ‘I Voted’ Stickers, New Ballot Tracking, Polling Changes, For 2026
July 8, 2026
With a critical primary election next month, Escambia County is rolling out voter-experience and tech upgrades designed to boost turnout and secure the vote. Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender unveiled a suite of new initiatives on Tuesday, putting a spotlight on a major overhaul to vote-by-mail transparency and a highly anticipated, patriotic redesign of the iconic “I Voted” sticker.
The sweeping changes come at a vital time. Bender emphasized that during the last primary, a staggering 75% of registered voters stayed home. He is pushing hard to reverse that trend for the August 18, 2026 primary, noting that critical, final decisions will be made that day—including a countywide referendum on whether the school superintendent should be elected or appointed, key school board races, and the City of Pensacola mayor’s race, which could be decided outright.
Knowing Where Your Ballot Is: Next-Level Vote-by-Mail Tracking
In a major victory for voter peace of mind, Escambia County has spent the last 15 months completely revamping its vote-by-mail system. The county has officially become only the fourth in Florida to implement intelligent mail barcode tracking for both outbound and inbound ballots.
Unlike previous cycles where the office could only verify if a ballot was mailed, this new system allows staff and voters to track the exact location of the envelope through the USPS network. To maximize the impact of this tech, every vote-by-mail voter will now be automatically enrolled in Ballot Track, a text and email notification service that gives real-time delivery updates.
Visually, the ballots are getting a makeover, too. A bright yellow coating has been added to the back of the vote-by-mail envelope to contrast with its green front. This ensures the ballot stands out in a pile of mail and draws immediate attention to the critical voter signature area.
The office already has more than 22,000 vote-by-mail requests on file—roughly half of the total requests from the historic 2024 general election. Voters are reminded that requests must be renewed every cycle, though anyone who submitted a request for the 2025 special elections is already covered through November 2026. Bender strictly clarified that the barcode only tracks the paper envelope to secure its journey, not the vote itself.
The America 250 “I Voted” Sticker
To celebrate the upcoming national milestone, the elections office is tying its 2026 branding to the America 250 celebration.
A newly redesigned “I Voted” sticker for 2026 features a historic tall ship representing 1776 alongside a sleek, modern sailboat representing 2026, set against a backdrop of celebratory fireworks. In an exciting shift from past protocols, these limited-edition stickers won’t just be handed out at physical polling places; they will also be packed directly into every single vote-by-mail packet so that every voter can wear their pride. The office plans to use this exclusive design through the November election before returning to its standard sticker in 2028.
Honoring Veteran Poll Workers
Bender noted the county expects to deploy more than 600 election workers to keep things running smoothly. In partnership with the Vet the Vote initiative, the office surveyed its workforce and discovered that roughly 45% of its poll workers identify as veterans or come from military families.
To honor this dedication, these specific workers will be given a special commemorative pin featuring the Vet the Vote 250th anniversary logo and the office’s 2026 motto: “Honoring service through service.”
Polling Place Location Changes
While the infrastructure is gearing up for high efficiency, voters should also prepare for minor polling place shifts. The elections office confirmed that 10 polling locations are changing across the county this cycle due to a mix of construction, permanent realignments, and temporary relocations.
Permanent Changes
Voters in the following precincts will be mailed a notice of Permanent Polling Location Change and a new Voter Information Card for the following locations:
- Precinct 5 (Former Location – Wilde Lake Church): New Location – Klondike Church of Pensacola, 7201 Klondike Road, Pensacola
- Precinct 49 (Former Location – Grace Lutheran/CareerSource Escarosa): New Location – Asbury Place, 5725 North 9th Avenue, Pensacola
- Precinct 77 (Former Location – Pensacola State College, Warrington): New Location – Lexington Terrace Community Center, 700 South Old Corry Field Road, Pensacola
- Precinct 98 (Former Location – St. John Divine Baptist Church): New Location – Bethel AME Church, 511 Woodland Drive, Pensacola
- Precinct 101 (Former Location – Plainview Baptist Church): New Location – Hadji Temple, 800 Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Precinct 106 (Former Location – Grace Lutheran/CareerSource Escarosa): New Location – Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 7979 North 9th Avenue, Pensacola
Temporary Changes for 2026
Voters will be mailed a notice of Temporary Polling Location Change at least 14 days before each election for the following locations:
- Precinct 14 (Permanent Location – Fricker Resource Center): Temporary Location – Main Library, 239 North Spring Street, Pensacola
- Precinct 70 (Permanent Location – Burgess Road Baptist Church): Temporary Location – Pensacola Christian College, 115 St. John, Pensacola
Changes from 2025 Special Election
A reminder that the following precincts were permanently changed during the 2025 Special Election:
- Precinct 22 (Former Location – Century Town Hall): New Location – Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse, 7500 N Century Blvd., Century
- Precinct 24 (Former Location – Warrington Church): New Location – St. John’s Episcopal Church, 401 Live Oak Ave., Pensacola
Returning to Precinct
After being at the Main Library for the 2024 and 2025 Elections, Precinct 31 is returning to its permanent location at Christ Church.
- Precinct 31: Christ Church Pensacola, 18 W. Wright St., Pensacola
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hot, Humid, Scattered Afternoon Storms
July 8, 2026
Isolated to scattered showers and storms continue each afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and frequent lightning can be expected with storms. Heat indices will range from 100 to 107 each afternoon.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 89. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Former Inmate Arrested After Allegedly Flying Contraband Drone Toward Holman Prison
July 8, 2026
A former inmate is back behind bars after allegedly attempting to fly a contraband-laden drone into Holman Correctional Facility last weekend.
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Southern K-9 unit received a tip regarding an individual operating a drone from Interstate 65 toward the prison.
ADOC K-9 units, with assistance from the Atmore Police Department, responded to the area and apprehended the suspect, identified as former inmate Edward Knight. Knight, 42, was taken into custody without incident.
According to officials, the drone was carrying an attached package. Authorities were able to land the drone safely and confiscate the unauthorized cargo. Following an interview with ADOC agents, Knight was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and two counts of illegal drone operation.
The investigation quickly expanded beyond South Alabama. Agents discovered that Knight allegedly housed additional contraband at his residence on Springville Road in Birmingham. ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division, Narcotics unit, and K-9 officers subsequently executed a search warrant at the Birmingham apartment, gathering further evidence tied to the drone operation.
ADOC officials stated that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be pending against Knight.