Severe weather forecast: What's closed, cancelled or paused

From staff reports
Updated ·6 min read

Severe thunderstorms are expected to bring high winds, tornadoes and flooding to the Pensacola area late Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

There is the potential for thunderstorms throughout the day on Monday, but the greatest risk for severe weather will happen overnight.

The National Weather Service Office in Mobile, Alabama, warned that a line of severe thunderstorms is expected to move into Northwest Florida around midnight bringing damaging winds in excess of 70 mph and the possibility of a few strong tornadoes in the EF-2 category or greater. The greatest risk for tornadoes will be between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Full story: Severe thunderstorms could bring tornadoes, flooding to Pensacola area tonight

Watches, warnings for Escambia, Santa Rosa counties

We gather all of the watches and warnings for the local area in one spot, updating automatically as weather changes.

Follow here: Weather watches, warnings issued for Pensacola area. See radar, current conditions

Escambia, Santa Rosa schools cancel after-school activities Monday, close school Tuesday

Escambia County Public Schools and the Santa Rosa County School District announced that schools and district offices will be closed on Tuesday due to possible inclement weather in the area.

Additionally, all extra-curricular activities are canceled Monday afternoon and evening, as well as Tuesday.

Additionally, Santa Rosa County District Schools District 1 Town Hall on Monday is canceled. Community Schools/Latchkey will remain open until 6 p.m.

Full story: Escambia County, Santa Rosa schools closed Tuesday due to severe weather

Other closures and cancellations

  • The University of West Florida will close at 3 p.m. Monday and reopen at noon Tuesday. This includes all classes, events, campus activities and online courses. The UWF trolley will suspend operations after its last route at 5:30 p.m. and resume operations at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Normal university operations, classes, events and campus activities will resume at noon on Tuesday unless conditions change, in which case, university officials will notify all students, faculty and staff.

  • Pensacola State College campuses and centers will be closed from 4 p.m. Monday until noon Tuesday, when the College will reopen all offices and resume normal function. Anyone with childcare issues or hazardous conditions in their area may remain home and take leave for Tuesday. College administrators will continue to monitor weather conditions and road hazard issues and change plans if necessary.

  • Community Health Northwest Florida locations will be closing at 5:00 p.m. Monday: Pediatric Convenient Care at 5375 North 9th Ave., and Adult and Family Care at N. Palafox at 1400 N. Palafox St.

Pensacola government delays opening Tuesday

City of Pensacola offices and facilities will delay opening until 9 a.m. Tuesday, due to anticipated hazardous weather conditions. Essential departments including Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola Police Department will not experience a delayed opening.

The delay will include:

Exceptions:

  • Pensacola International Airport will remain open. Please check with airlines about potential flight delays. Pensacola International Airport Administration Offices will be closed.

City Sanitation Services

  • City of Pensacola Sanitation Services will be operating on a delayed schedule due to weather conditions, with an anticipated start time of 9 a.m. Sanitation Services will collect any remaining Tuesday garbage cans on Wednesday.

Escambia County Office Hours delayed Tuesday

The following Escambia County offices will experience delayed openings Tuesday due to inclement weather:

  • Escambia County Board of County Commissioners - 9 a.m. (all departments)

  • Escambia County Property Appraiser - 9 a.m.

  • Escambia County Tax Collector - 9:30 a.m. (all locations)

  • Escambia County Supervisor of Elections - 9 a.m.

  • Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller - 9:30 a.m.

Regular business hours will resume Wednesday.

Santa Rosa County government delays Tuesday openings

County offices and facilities, including the Central Landfill and Jay Transfer Station, will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. This includes:

  • Santa Rosa County Clerk of Courts

  • Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser

  • Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections

  • Santa Rosa County Tax Collector

Court operations will have a delayed opening on Tuesday and will open at 10:30 a.m.

  • Judge Hilliard - Docket Day - 10:30 a.m. start time

  • Judge Duncan - Docket Day - 10:30 a.m. start time

  • Judge Drake - Jury Trial - 10:30 a.m. start time

  • For those with Zoom hearings, you may contact the division directly with any inquiries.

Escambia and Santa Rosa counties open sand bag locations

Escambia County is offering sand for residents living in flood-prone areas ahead of severe weather forecast for overnight tonight. The sand is available on a first come, first served basis. Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels to one of the following locations:

  • Baars Field Athletic Park - 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola

  • Brent Athletic Park - 4711 N. W St., Pensacola

  • Don Sutton Park - 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino

  • Equestrian Center - 7750 Mobile Highway, Pensacola

  • Escambia County Road Department - 601 Highway 297-A, Pensacola

  • Ferry Pass Middle School - 8355 Yancey Lane, Pensacola (sand will be on the northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street)

  • John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park - 555 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola

  • Travis M. Nelson Park -  4541 County Road 4, Pensacola

  • The corner of Leisure St. and Citrus Dr. in Navarre

  • Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze

  • Pace Fire-Rescue in Pace

  • The corner of Pine Forest Road and Carroll Road in Milton

Shelter opens for severe weather

Waterfront Rescue Mission will open its severe weather shelter on Monday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m. for individuals seeking temporary shelter from the storm.

There will be no fee for anyone seeking shelter from the storm, and Waterfront will be working with community partners to ensure anyone seeking shelter will be accommodated.

ECAT suspends bus service early Monday

Due to inclement weather, Escambia County Area Transit will suspend service early today, Jan. 8. Last departures will leave at the times below:

  • Route 1 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Route 2 - 6 p.m.

  • Route 31 - 5 p.m.

  • Route 32 - 6 p.m.

  • Route 43 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Route 44 - 6 p.m.

  • Route 45 - 5 p.m.

  • Route 47 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Route 48 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Route 50 - 5 p.m.

  • Route 51 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Route 52 - 6:30 p.m.

  • Route 55 - 6 p.m.

  • Route 57 - 4 p.m.

  • Route 58 - 5:30 p.m.

  • Route 59X - 6:50 p.m. (from NATTC)

  • Route 60 - 5 p.m.

  • Route 61 - 4:30 p.m.

  • Route 63 - 4 p.m

  • UWF trolley - 6 p.m.

Service is expected to return starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Emerald Coast Utilities Authority cancels Tuesday collections

Due to impending inclement, all residential sanitation, recycling and yard trash collections, and all commercial sanitation collections for ECUA customers that would normally be made on Tuesday will be made one day later, on Wednesday. All subsequent collections this week will also be conducted one day later than normally scheduled.

Where possible, ECUA encourages customers to secure their cans in an enclosed structure (i.e. garage) or to an outside fixed structure after Monday's collection is completed.

Navarre Beach Pier to close

Navarre Beach Pier will close at 4 p.m. Monday and is expected to reopen after noon on Tuesday

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Escambia Santa Rosa County severe weather forecast