Mostly Sunny And Hot Friday; Slight Weekend Rain Chances
July 17, 2026
Temperatures will continue to rise through the rest of the week and into early next week. Heat indices are forecast to be in the 100-107 range this weekend and 105 to 111 next week. Shower and thunderstorm chances increase late Saturday afternoon in early next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 105. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Blues Angels From Traffic To Heat And Safety: What You Need To Know
July 17, 2026
With the Blue Angels ready to take to the skies for the Pensacola Beach Air Show, Escambia County encourages the public to follow these tips for a safe and fun air show experience:
Traffic
- Leave early. Traffic will be heavy, and parking is limited on Pensacola Beach. To view live traffic cameras, visit MyEscambia.com/pensacolabeach.
- The Casino Beach and Pensacola Beach Boardwalk parking lots will close once they reach capacity.
- If parking is full in the core areas, take advantage of the free Pensacola Beach Trolleys offered by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Buses and trolleys will transport passengers between Park East, Park West and Casino Beach, the air show’s show center. Click here for more information about Pensacola Beach trolley service.
- Remember that access into and exiting the Casino Beach parking lot along Via De Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road functions in a circular configuration, with one way in and one way out. The only entrance into the parking lot is along Via De Luna Drive next to Sidelines Sports Bar & Restaurant and across the street from Flounder’s Chowder House. The only exit from the parking lot is along Fort Pickens Road near the public restrooms/Public Safety Building.
- Parking is not allowed along Fort Pickens Road.
Pedestrian Safety
- Pedestrians should cross the street at marked crosswalks and always watch for traffic when crossing.
- Follow pedestrian signs and signals. Pedestrians should yield right of way to vehicles if the crosswalk signal is red or “Don’t Walk.”
- Drivers should use extra caution and be mindful of pedestrians in the area.
Drone Restrictions
- Flying drones or kites during the air show is strictly prohibited.
- Please help keep everyone safe and the show running smoothly by following all drone rules and guidelines.
- Once aircraft demonstrations begin, all drones and kites must be grounded until the U.S. Navy Blue Angels have completed their performance. This also includes the civilian flight demonstrations. Any drone detected within a five-mile radius of the restricted flight zone will result in an immediate pause of the air show until the airspace is clear.
- Click here for more information about drone regulations and restrictions.
Water Safety
- Swim in lifeguarded areas, and be sure to follow all lifeguard instructions. Swimmers will not be allowed in the Gulf during the air show.
- Check before you go and follow the posted beach condition flag warnings. Beach conditions can be checked at PensacolaBeachLifeguards.com and on the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook page.
- Rip currents are the leading water hazard and account for more than 80% of lifeguard rescues. Even on green flag days, rip currents can be present. If you are caught in a rip current:
- Stay calm.
- Swim parallel to shore.
- If you are unable to swim out immediately, float with the current until it weakens, then swim back to shore at an angle.
Heat Safety
- Wear and reapply sunscreen often.
- Avoid strenuous activities and wear light clothing.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Never leave people or pets in a vehicle.
Weather Safety
- Escambia County Emergency Management will be closely monitoring the weather and sharing updates with the public throughout the air show.
- Air show attendees are reminded to heed any warnings about severe weather and lightning in the area, and to follow any announcements and instructions regarding potential weather delays.
Pensacola Beach Rules
- Glass containers are not allowed on the beach.
- The west side of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is an alcohol-free zone.
- Open containers are not allowed off the boardwalk or outside any establishment.
- No alcohol can be consumed in any parking lot on Santa Rosa Island.
- No grills are allowed on the beach.
- Dogs other than service animals are not permitted on the any of the beaches except in designated dog parks.
- Remember to “leave no trace” and keep Pensacola Beach sea turtle friendly. Properly dispose of trash, fill in any holes in the sand and remove belongings from the beach at the end of the day. This includes not leaving any personal property unattended on the sandy Gulf beach from sunset until sunrise like umbrellas, tents, beach toys and chairs.
Water and First Aid Stations
- A water station will be available at the Pensacola Beach Visitors Information Center, located in the Casino Beach parking lot near the corner of Via de Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road.
- A first aid medical tent will be located in the parking lot of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office substation at Casino Beach to provide assistance to any air show attendees in need of medical care.
- An emergency cooling station will also be available next to the medical tent.
Vessel Exclusion Zone
- Escambia County Emergency Management has deployed buoys and signage in the sound side of Pensacola Beach to create a vessel exclusion zone for the Pensacola Beach Air Show, which will provide an access point for first responders entering and exiting the water when responding to calls.
- The vessel exclusion zone will begin from the shoreline between the Santa Rosa Island Authority Administrative Building and the ferry channel.
- Boaters are prohibited from anchoring their boats within the vessel exclusion zone, which is marked by red buoys. However, boaters may cross through the vessel exclusion zone while traveling to their destination.
Pictured: The Blue Angels over Pensacola Beach last year as seen from onboard a Coast Guard ship in the Gulf. NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Officials Warn: No Drones Or Kites Allowed During Pensacola Beach Air Show
July 17, 2026
Escambia County is reminding hose attending the Pensacola Beach Air Show July 15-18 that flying drones or kites during the air show is strictly prohibited.
Once aircraft demonstrations begin, all drones and kites must be grounded until the U.S. Navy Blue Angels have completed their performance. This also includes the civilian flight demonstrations. Any drone detected within a five-mile radius of the restricted flight zone will result in an immediate pause of the air show until the airspace is clear, according to the county.
Drone operators are also reminded to comply with all Federal Aviation Administration requirements outlined in Part 107 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Individuals violating any of these rules, and/or operating in a dangerous manner, may be subject to FAA enforcement action and/or criminal penalties of up to a third-degree felony for certain violations.
Registration
- Failure to register an unmanned aircraft system or drone that is required to be registered may result in regulatory and criminal penalties. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.
Operating Over People
- Per FAA guidelines, drones are generally not allowed to be flown over people or crowds. Significant injuries could occur in the event of a drone crashing into a crowd.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
