Escambia, Santa Rosa to enter hard freeze watch Thursday as temps dip below 20 degrees

The National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, has forecast extremely cold conditions beginning late Thursday night and lasting through the holiday weekend.

The area is under a hard freeze watch from late Thursday night until Christmas morning.

The coldest temperatures are expected on Friday night. Temperatures are expected to fall into the teens over most areas along and north of Interstate 10, with freezing temperatures in the 20s expected all the way to the coast, according to the NWS.

Highs on Christmas Eve are currently forecast to only reach into the 30s over most of the Gulf Coast, while lows early Christmas morning will once again fall into the teens and 20s. Highs on Christmas Day are expected to remain in the 30s to lower 40s across the area.

Related:It could dip to 30 degrees this weekend. Here's a few tips to save on your power bill

Blustery northwesterly winds are expected to bring dangerously low wind chills, potentially in the single digits.

Cold weather shelter in Santa Rosa County

Due to the expected daily cold temperatures, Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton, will open as a cold weather shelter starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, and will remain open 24 hours a day until 8 a.m. on Mon., Dec. 26.

The shelter is for people who are homeless or cannot maintain heat in their home, can care for themselves, and are not at risk to themselves or others. No one will be admitted to the shelter who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, unable to walk unaided or disoriented.

Only service animals with verification of rabies vaccination are permitted to stay with guests. No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. unless brought in by law enforcement.

Escambia County cold weather shelter

Escambia County residents seeking cold weather shelter should call 211 to learn what resources are available, according to county and city of Pensacola officials.

“We will soon have extended cold weather in our area during the Christmas holiday," Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins said in a statement. "There are several things to keep in mind. There is cold weather sheltering available for men, women and children if needed. Call 211 for the latest sheltering information to include entry time, type and capacity. Waterfront Rescue Mission opens as a warming center during the day for both men and women when the temperature is 40 degrees or lower."

The Waterfront Rescue Mission is located at 348 W. Herman St. in Pensacola.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said during a regular news conference Tuesday morning that Pensacola police officers will be keeping an eye out for people who may be in need of shelter.

"Our first responders are going from call to call and trying to handle situations as they come up, but they do a really good job of working double duty and making sure that if there's folks that look like that they may need that information ... that we're getting it out there," Reeves said.

Holiday travel

On Monday, the Florida Department of Transportation's District 3 office posted on its Twitter page that crews were preparing for the weather.

"FDOT is assessing our winter weather equipment like bridge deck anti-icing sprayers in preparation for freezing temperatures forecasted in the region. FDOT’s winter weather plan is designed to keep Florida’s highway system safe and operational in all types of weather conditions," the post said.

In terms of weather impacts to local holiday air travel, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said there are currently no major impacts at Pensacola International Airport, though staff will be monitoring changes "day by day, hour by hour," he said.

"At this time we have not been notified of closures, schedule changes at the airport," Reeves said Tuesday. "I know we're seeing that up in the Northeast, obviously (it is a) much more severe situation. So, I guess I would advise our Pensacolians that if they are flying that direction right now to make sure you continue to look at your airline applications and ... continue to be vigilant and monitoring your schedules. I can't promise what will or won't happen, but I would say at this juncture, as we sit here Tuesday, we have not been notified of any significant changes on that front."

He added that travelers can monitor their flight status at flypensacola.com.

Cold weather safety tips

Local officials have offered a variety of cold weather safety tips.

Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins advised, "If you are using a space heater, make sure that it is plugged directly into a wall. Never plug a space heater into an extension cord or power strip. Do not try to heat your home with a kitchen oven or open flame outside of a fireplace. Carbon monoxide poisoning is very real and is a silent killer. For our homeless providers, please help to get the word out about not having an open flame in a tent and at a minimum 10 feet away from a tent. We had fatalities due to tent fires last year and have already had a tent fire this season."

A heartbreaker:Pensacola man spent 54 years in search of the love of his life. He lost her in seconds

Remember the Five Ps of Cold Weather Safety:

• Protect People: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is important to try to stay out of the wind and to stay dry. Also, remember to check on young children and elderly family and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at a home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.

• Protect Pets: If cold weather is in the forecast, be sure to bring outdoor pets inside or give them a warm shelter to stay in.

• Protect Plants: Cover cold-sensitive plants to protect them from dangerous temperatures.

• Protect Pipes: Cover pipes and allow outdoor faucets to slowly drip to prevent freezing and breaking.

• Practice Fire Safety: Use safe heating sources indoors. Do not use fuel-burning devices such as grills; they release carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas. Also, make sure to use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Christmas to bring freezing cold to Escambia, Santa Rosa counties