Winter weather prompts schools, Escambia County office closures as freezing rain predicted

Schools and offices across Escambia County have begun to prepare for the potential of inclement winter weather arriving in the area overnight into Friday morning.

The National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties effective until noon on Friday. Santa Rosa County was added to the advisory early Friday morning. The weather service forecasts freezing temperatures and rain between approximately 3-9 a.m., with the possibility of icy adversely affecting area road conditions throughout Friday.

In an abundance of caution, all Escambia County schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled for Friday.

"We anticipate normal district operations will resume on Monday, Jan. 24,” Superintendent Tim Smith said in a statement. “Of course, we'll continue to work closely with local emergency operations officials to determine what is safest for our families and staff.”

Closure list: What's closed Friday in anticipation of winter weather in Pensacola area

Escambia County also closed its offices Friday including the tax collectors, property appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Department of Animal Welfare and Clerk of Court offices, as well as all public libraries.

ECAT bus service, University of West Florida Trolley and Pensacola Beach Trolley services are also suspended Friday.

City of Pensacola officials also announced it would be closing offices and facilities on Friday, with the exception of essential services. Closures include administrative offices, city hall and city of Pensacola community resource centers.

City of Pensacola Sanitation Services planned to operate on a delayed schedule, with an anticipated start time of 10 a.m.

Santa Rosa schools and county offices remain open as of Thursday afternoon. For a complete list of closures, click here.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service in Mobile warned of the potential of a small amount of ice accumulation from light freezing rain expected Friday morning.

Both counties are under a winter weather advisory until noon for a "light glaze" of ice accumulation.

Michael Mugrage, a meteorologist with the weather service, told the News Journal that ice accumulation may be just a trace amount up to 0.01 inches to 0.02 inches.

How much ice accumulates and where will depend largely on how heavy it rains, as the rain will push temperatures down below freezing.

Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore cautioned that potentially icy conditions could pose a safety hazard to morning commuters.

"If you have to be on the roadways, please exercise extreme caution,” he said in a county weather alert.

The weather service's advisory said that the forecast remains uncertain and any rain overnight and Friday morning has the potential to allow for ice accumulation on elevated surfaces.

"It's entirely possible (the freezing rain) can get down to the Pensacola area," Mugrage said. "Temperatures are just a little bit warmer down there, but if we get high enough precipitation rates, if they can come down heavy enough, it can easily transition over and give a little bit of ice accumulation."

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The biggest impact from that small amount of ice would be build up on bridges and overpasses.

Escambia County has plans in place to put sand down on bridges in the northern end of the county and public safety officials will be meeting this afternoon to discuss plans for responding to the potentially hazardous weather, according to Escambia County Public Safety spokesperson Davis Wood.

"If traveling, drive with extreme caution and be alert for slick spots on bridges and overpasses. Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you," the weather service's advisory said. "Allow extra time to reach your destination."

Mugrage said any ice that does accumulate will melt by Friday afternoon and the roads should be able to dry out enough that black ice will not be a concern when temperatures fall below freezing again on Friday night.

The weekend will bring a low of 30 degrees for Pensacola and in the 20s for the northern parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Temperatures are expected to warm back up next week, with low temperatures going above freezing by Tuesday, before another wave of cold air moves back through the area on Wednesday.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: National Weather Service warns of freezing rain potential in Escambia