Free Sand For Flood Prep Is Available In Escambia County
June 18, 2026
Escambia County has still has free sand available for residents living in flood prone areas due to a high risk of flash flooding over the next few days.
The sand is available on a first come, first served basis 24 hours a day at the following locations:
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Travis M. Nelson Park - 4541 Highway 4, Bratt
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297-A
- Ferry Pass Middle School – 8355 Yancey Lane, Pensacola (NW cornerschool property on Parazine Street)
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St., Pensacola
Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels. Sandbags are typically available for purchase at home improvement and hardware stores.
Pictured: Sand at Travis M. Nelson Park in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Reminder: MILO, The Mobile ID And Licensing Office, Is In Walnut Hill Today
June 18, 2026
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Walnut Hill today, June 18.
The mobile unit will be available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center (Ruritan Building) at 7850 Highway 97.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address or name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Future MILO visits are planned for July 16 and August 20 at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century, and the Walnut Hill Community Center on October 15.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Flash Flood Watch Continues Through Friday Evening
June 18, 2026
A flash flood watch in effect until Friday evening.
Heavy rainfall and persistent thunderstorms dominate the local weather picture for the latter half of the week, with the potential for significant water accumulation through Friday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 76. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Juneteenth: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. High near 87. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 86. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Area Residents May Hear Ascend Alarms This Morning
June 18, 2026
Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment will hold a plant-wide “Shelter-in-Place” safety drill on this morning.
Sometime between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m., nearby residents may hear the shelter-in-place alarm (nine horn blasts) followed by three area alarms and all-clear signals, according to Ascend.
Officials said it is a routine, site-wide safety drill.
NorthEscamia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tropical Storm Arthur Forms; Heavy Rain, Not Wind Our Local Concern
June 17, 2026
UPDATE: Tropical Storm Arthur dissipated Wednesday night.
Tropical Storm Arthur has formed near the middle Texas coast. The biggest concern will be heavy rain across the South, not wind.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued from Texas to Louisiana.
Maximum winds were at 40 mph.
Significant development is not forecast due to heavy wind shear, and Arthur is expected to move inland over Louisiana tonight.
In Northwest Florida, there is a high risk of rip currents at the beaches, and there is an increasing risk of flash flooding through Friday as periods of heavy rain and storms move across the area. For North Escambia, the current rain forecast is 6-8 inches, with higher amounts in some areas.
MILO Mobile ID And Licensing Unit In Walnut Hill Tomorrow
June 17, 2026
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be at teh Walnut Hill Community Center on Thursday, June 18 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, such as driver’s license renewals, identification cards, vehicle services, tax payments and business tax receipts.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Flash Flood Watch: Days Of Tropical Rain
June 17, 2026
A flash flood watch is in effect until Friday evening for the entire area.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 82. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 75. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Juneteenth: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 86. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
This Is Only A Test: Residents May Hear Alarms From Ascend Thursday Morning
June 17, 2026
Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment will hold a plant-wide “Shelter-in-Place” safety drill on Thursday morning.
Sometime between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m., nearby residents may hear the shelter-in-place alarm (nine horn blasts) followed by three area alarms and all-clear signals, according to Ascend.
“This is a routine, site-wide safety drill to help us be prepared to respond in case of an actual emergency,” Ascend said.
NorthEscamia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flash Flood Watch In Effect Through Friday Evening
June 16, 2026
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire area through Friday evening.
Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall will continue through at least Friday afternoon. Additional rainfall amounts of 4 to 7 inches are expected with locally higher amounts, which may cause flash flooding, especially in urban and other poor drainage areas.
Here is the official local area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Low around 72. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 82. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 75. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Juneteenth: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 86. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tropical Storm Arthur Development Odds Increase To 50%
June 15, 2026
The National Hurricane Center has increased the development chances to 50% for a Gulf system.
“A trough of low pressure located over northeastern Mexico is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Development is not expected during the next day or so while the trough remains inland. However, the system could re-emerge over the northwestern Gulf late Tuesday or Wednesday, and environmental conditions there are marginally conducive for the formation of a short-lived tropical storm on Wednesday into Thursday,” the NHC said Monday afternoon.
If a storm forms, it will be named Tropical Storm Arthur.
Regardless of development, the system will produce periods of intense rainfall affecting interests across southern and eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana and Mississippi.
“Gusty winds and coastal flooding are also possible along portions of the northwestern Gulf Coast, and Tropical Storm watches or warnings could be required on Tuesday,” NHC said.
A moderate risk of rip currents will continue the first half of the week for coastal Alabama and northwest Florida beaches, becoming a high risk on Wednesday.
Periods of showers and storms will affect the area through the week with an increasing risk of flooding issues as the Gulf system merges with an advancing front. Moderate to strong winds may create hazardous conditions for small craft from Wednesday night through Thursday night.
RELATED: Showers And Storms, Heavy Rainfall Possible Through Midweek