Local Forecast: Flash Flood Watch
July 11, 2019
A flash flood watch is in effect through Sunday.
For more on the tropical system in the Gulf, including the storm track and wind forecast, click here.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. East wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 85. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 75. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
The Blue Angels Air Show Schedule Remains Unchanged
July 10, 2019
The Blue Angels air shows are still on at Pensacola Beach Thursday through Sunday, despite rumors and erroneous information being shared on social media.
With a tropical weather system expected in the Gulf Of Mexico, the Blues say they will wait until the last minute to make any cancellation announcements.
“As of right now every show scheduled is still on track. We won’t cancel any part of the scheduled itinerary until the last possible moment, that way we don’t cancel Saturday’s flight and it ends up being a blue-skied sunny day,” MC2(SW) Christopher Gordon, Blue Angels Public Affairs, told NorthEscambia.com. ”So as of right now every flight is still a go. We will be sure to update everyone as soon as we get the information.”
In order to fly, the Blue Angels need the wind to be under 25 knots (28.76 mph) and a visibility of at least three nautical miles (3.45 statute miles). However, if air show organizers (the Santa Rosa Island Authority), cancel the show, the Blues can’t fly.
Here is the schedule, as it stands now, for the Blue Angels:
- Thursday: Practice over Pensacola Beach at 2 pm.
- Friday: Practice over Pensacola Beach 2 p.m.
- Saturday: Show time at 2 p.m.
- Sunday: Weather make-up day only. Flight time TBD.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
What Will This Gulf Storm Mean For Escambia County? Here Are The Details
July 10, 2019
As we continue to watch the development of what will become Tropical Storm and then likely Hurricane Barry over the Gulf, here are the complete details on the local impacts in North Escambia and surrounding areas, directly from our partners at the National Weather Service in Mobile:
LOCAL IMPACTS
- A flash flood watch is in effect through Sunday afternoon.
- Regardless of the eventual track and intensity of the system, our confidence is increasing in heavy rainfall later this week (especially along the coast).
- Rain will increase in coverage across the region through the week and weekend. The potential for heavy rain is trending higher with rainfall amounts of 5-7 inches possible mainly for southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama (further north and east of there, expect a general 3-5″). Depending on how rain bands set up during this event, we could see even higher amounts in isolated areas. The bulk of the rain will begin overnight Thursday into early Friday and extend through the weekend. Expect our usual afternoon showers/storms beforehand.
- Potential for coastal flooding will depend on the movement and strengthening trend of the system. At this point, it is prudent to consider that minor coastal flooding (1-3 feet) is possible beginning Friday and continuing into Sunday. Depending on the track of the system, more significant coastal flooding may occur especially over coastal Alabama.
- High Rip Current Risk and increased surf is expected starting Thursday through at least the weekend for coastal Alabama and northwest Florida beaches.
THE SCIENCE
- A broad low pressure system located over the northeast Gulf of Mexico has become a little better defined this morning. The system is currently experiencing some northerly vertical wind shear, but the shear is expected to gradually subside over the next day. This system still has a HIGH CHANCE of becoming a tropical depression or storm by Thursday.
- Some erratic motion will be possible over the next 24 hours or until a well-defined center develops. That said, the general motion is expected to be toward the west-southwest or southwest. By Friday, it is forecast to turn toward the west-northwest and then turn northwestward by Saturday into a break in a deep-layer ridge (currently extending from the southeastern US westward across the southern Plains and into the Desert Southwest). The timing of the ridge breakdown owing to a shortwave trough moving southeast out of the northern Plains will be critical since a later/earlier turn by the cyclone would shift the track west/east of the current forecast.
- Only slow strengthening is expected for the next 24-36 hours due to the lack of a well-defined center and inner-core wind field, along with some modest northerly wind shear. By 48 hours and beyond, the combination of atmospheric and oceanic conditions become ideal for intensification.
WHAT IS A POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE?
- Potential Tropical Cyclone was a “new product” back in 2017. It allows the weather service to have the option to issue advisories/watches/warnings for disturbances that are not yet deemed a tropical depression or tropical storm (not fully formed), but which pose the threat of bringing tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land areas within 48 hours. These systems are known as Potential Tropical Cyclones in advisory products and are numbered from the same list as depressions. Because of the threat to the Gulf Coast, advisories have been initiated on Potential Tropical Cyclone #2 (further west of our area, toward Louisiana).
- Under previous longstanding NWS policy, it was not permitted to issue a hurricane or tropical storm watch/warning until after formation of the tropical system. Advances in forecasting over the past decade now allow the confident prediction of tropical impacts while these systems are still in the developmental stage. For these land-threatening “potential tropical cyclones”, the National Hurricane Center can issue the full suite of text, graphical, and watch/warning products that previously has only been issued for ongoing tropical systems.
Gulf System Now Expected To Become A Hurricane
July 10, 2019
The National Hurricane Center is now issuing advisories on the system moving into the Gulf of Mexico. Winds are currently at 30 mph. The disturbance is forecast to become a tropical depression Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Barry Thursday night, and a hurricane on Friday.
READ: What Will This Gulf Storm Mean For Escambia County? Here Are The Details
A flash flood watch is in effect through Sunday afternoon.
In the Florida Panhandle, several inches of rain are forecast. There will be a high risk of rip currents in the Gulf, and some minor coastal flooding will be possible during the high tide periods mainly Friday and Saturday.
Forecasters are not expecting any significant wind threat locally; however, a few of the thunderstorms could contain some gusty winds. Securing light loose objects is never a bad safety precaution.
A tropical storm watch has been issued from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Morgan City, Louisiana. A storm surge watch is in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to Morgan City, Louisiana.
Wet Period Begins As System Moves Into The Gulf
July 10, 2019
Forecasters are continuing to watch a system moving into the Gulf of Mexico. Conditions are favorable for this system to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves westward toward Louisiana through the end of the week. Click here for the latest tropical information.
A flash flood watch is in effect through Sunday afternoon.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 105. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 86. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.
Rain Chances Increase As Tropical System Expected In The Gulf
July 9, 2019
The National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor a potential Gulf of Mexico system. A tropical depression is expected to form by the end of the week from a broad area of low pressure moving slowly westward over the northern Gulf. Regardless of the eventually track and intensity of the system, it has the potential to produce heavy rainfall later this week.
At this time, it is too soon to determine the magnitude and intensity of any potential wind or storm surge impacts along the Gulf Coast.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 107. Northwest wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 107. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.
Watching The Heat, Watching The Tropics
July 8, 2019
We are watching the heat as the week begins, and we are watching the tropics for possible impacts by the end of the week.
A trough of low pressure was located on the southeastern United States. It’s forecast to move southward toward the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, where a broad area of low pressure will likely form in a few days. Some gradual development is then possible and a tropical depression could form by the end of the week while the low meanders near the northern Gulf Coast.
Residents should monitor the progress of this system. Regardless of development, this system has the potential to produce heavy rainfall along the Gulf Coast later this week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 106. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 110. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Escambia School District Holding Job Fair Today
July 8, 2019
The Escambia County School District is holding a Back to School Job Fair Tuesday. The district is hiring for all positions.
The job fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the McDaniel Building, 75 North Pace Boulevard in Pensacola.
More Heat And Humidity
July 7, 2019
A new record high of 102 was set Saturday in Pensacola, and we’re in for more heat and humidity for Sunday. A lucky few with see showers, otherwise expect a high in the upper 90s and a heat index of 105 plus.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 109. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Former Gulf Breeze City Manager To Explain How He Can Help Century
July 7, 2019
The Century Town Council will sit down Monday with longtime Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy who has offered his consulting services to help the town solve the numerous problems identified in a recent report.
Eddy made the unsolicited offer after reading a report by independent financial consultant Bob Inzer, whose services were provided to the town by the Florida League of Cities following a scathing grand jury findings. Inzer repeatedly told the town council that Century needs to hire someone for a chief financial officer type position to have direct oversight over the town’s finances.
Eddy is not currently seeking a full time job with Century. Instead, he is proposing an hourly rate of $35 as a consultant. The town had not yet formally accepted his proposal, which he is expected to present Monday afternoon at 5:30 in council chambers.
Eddy recommended that the town set aside $5,000 for the initial phase, providing for 143 hours of service.
Eddy met with the Century Town Council in early 2018, explaining a new tax up to 10 percent that the town could levy on electricity, municipal water, propane and natural gas usage within the town limits. He also told the council that they could add an additional 25 percent premium to the bills of those outside the town limits that use town water or natural gas services, and up to a 5 percent communications tax to phone and internet bills.
The council never acted on any utility tax increases.
Eddy served as the Gulf Breeze city manager from 1992 until his retirement in 2017. He also worked as the city manager in Coral Springs, Florida, from 1988-1992.
Pictured above and below: Consultant Buz Eddy explained possible new tax revenue to the Century Town Council in February 2018. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
