EREC Members Asked To Conserve Electricity To Avoid Outages
January 22, 2025
Escambia River Electric Cooperative is urgently asking members to conserve electricity to avoid outages due to an extreme strain on the system due to the extreme cold.
“Please make every effort (Wednesday) morning to reduce load,” EREC said. “Load can be reduced by turning off all unneeded lights, TVs, etc. and postponing the use of electric appliances such as dishwashers, clothes dryers, and ovens. In addition to conserving, we need you to help us get this important message out by sharing this post. Small reductions by many can make all the difference.”
“The member-owned cooperative said that they are “thanking every crew who has been out working in this cold weather. PowerSouth and EREC have done everything there is to do to try and prevent outage. We also want to thank every member who has prayed for our crews and offered words of encouragement.”
Pictured: EREC Crews work in the snow to restore an outage on Tuesday. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
About 10 Degrees Wednesday Night
January 22, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Calm wind.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.
ECUA Further Delays Some Collections, Some Routes Canceled Altogether
January 22, 2025
ECUA has updated their collection schedule based upon winter conditions, no pick up this week for some locations.
Sanitation collection services will resume on Friday, January 24. Due to the impact of the recent winter weather, road conditions, and limited landfill operations, collection schedules have been adjusted as follows:
- Wednesday collections will resume on Friday.
- Thursday collections will take place on Saturday.
- Friday collections will take place on Sunday.
- Monday’s and Tuesday’s collections will resume as normal next week. Tuesday’s route, which covers a predominantly rural area, is deferred for safety reasons until next week as many roads in the northern portion of the county may still be impassable.
Pictured: ECUA cans await pickup on Tuesday on North Highway 99 in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Life Threatening Cold And Travel Conditions Continue; All Local Roads Closed
January 21, 2025
The National Weather Service said Tuesday night that life threatening travel conditions are coupling with life threatening cold temperatures to create a danger situation.
Temperatures are expected to plummet into the teens and even some isolated single digits tonight with wind chills well into the single digits and possibly dipping below zero.
All roadways in Escambia County, Florida; Escambia County, Alabama; and Santa Rosa County, Florida are considered closed and impassable.
Numerous motorists have been stranded in their vehicles, especially along Highway 29 south of Century.
The road closures will continue through at least Wednesday.
Pictured: Highway 97 at South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
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.
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.
Winter Storm Warning: Significant Snow, Extreme Cold
January 20, 2025
WINTER WEATHER INFO
- We are expecting a SIGNIFICANT winter storm across the area
- Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the area 6am Tuesday through 6am Wednesday
- There is a HIGH chance of accumulating wintry precipitation on Tuesday, producing moderate to major impacts to the area.
- The timing of accumulating snow begins as early as Tuesday morning and continues into the evening
- Most likely snow amounts are between 2-4 inches, although locally 4-5 inches of snow cannot be ruled out
- Areas along the immediate coast have a chance of a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, which would reduce the amount of snow that accumulates (recent trends suggest it may be mostly snow)
- Hazardous travel and disruptions are INCREASINGLY LIKELY
- EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT – Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 10 to 15 degrees along the coast and as low as 6 to 10 degrees inland expected. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to wind chills as low as 5 to 10 degrees.
OFFICIAL NORTH ESCAMBIA FORECAST
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 25. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
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.
Early Voting Opened Monday, Closed Tuesday, Reopening Wednesday With Extended Hours
January 20, 2025
Early voting for the 2025 Special Primary Election will be open with extended hours Monday and again Wednesday through Saturday. Early voting locations will be closed Tuesday due to winter weather conditions.
All seven early voting sites will be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Early voting continues through Saturday, January 25.
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
Escambia County To Begin Sanding Bridges Monday Afternoon
January 20, 2025
Escambia County will sand bridges across the county beginning Monday afternoon in advance of anticipated winter precipitation on Tuesday.
Sand improves traction in the event of ice on a bridge.
Pictured: Escambia County work crews sand bridges in 2021. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Schools Are Closed On Tuesday
January 19, 2025
Schools in Escambia County in Florida and Alabama are closed on Tuesday, and those in Alabama have also announced that they are closed on Wednesday. Santa Rosa County Schools are also closed.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA
Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard has announced that schools and district offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 21. due to possible extremely low temperatures and wintry weather in the area.
The National Weather Service forecasts severe cold weather moving through the area on Tuesday, with the possibility of dangerously low temperatures and wind chills. In an abundance of caution, all schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled for Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Tuesday night’s School Board meeting is cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Updates will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Due to extremely cold temperatures and winter weather potential, all Santa Rosa County Schools and district offices will be closed on both Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22. All district afterschool activities for Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22 are cancelled as well.
“This decision was made with the safety of our students and staff as our top priority, in collaboration with the National Weather Service of Mobile and the Santa Rosa Emergency Management Office,” the district said.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, ALABAMA
Escambia County (AL) 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.
The safety of our students, staff, and bus transportation is our top priority,” Superintendent Michele W. Collier said. “Based on the latest forecasts and potential hazards, we believe this is the best course of action to ensure everyone’s well-being. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary regarding any further changes to school operating schedules.”
Updates will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com.