Severe Weather Update for Sunday, Jan. 25

Escambia County residents are encouraged to continue to monitor potential severe weather today, Sunday, Jan. 25, with a line of storms expected to move across the area by mid-afternoon. Temperatures will drop rapidly once the storms move out, with the entire area under an Extreme Cold Warning Sunday night into Monday morning.

Local cold weather shelters will open their doors beginning Sunday, Jan. 25. Click here for more information.

Extreme Cold:

• According to the National Weather Service of Mobile, an Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for Escambia County from late Sunday night through Monday morning, and an Extreme Cold Watch is in effect Monday night into Tuesday morning.
• Temperatures will fall rapidly Sunday evening. Overnight lows are expected to drop into the teens to low 20s, with dangerous wind chills in the single digits inland and low- to mid-teens near the coast.
• Residents should take cold weather precautions. Cold weather safety information is available below, at weather.gov/safety/cold, or on the Escambia County website.
• Black Ice Update: This is not currently expected to be a threat for Escambia County and is decreasing for other areas as roads may have time to dry out. Drivers should still use caution on bridges and overpasses tonight.

• Escambia County is included in a Slight Risk for strong to possibly severe storms on Sunday.
• Primary hazards include damaging wind gusts, but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out.
• Isolated to scattered storms possible this morning, with a line of storms expected to move across the area by mid-afternoon.
• Very windy conditions are expected even outside of the line of storms, with a Wind Advisory in effect for the entire Escambia County area until 3 p.m. Frequent gusts of up to 40-50 mph are expected. Winds will remain gusty tonight, closer to 30-40 mph.

Residents are urged to take winter weather precautions and remain weather-alert.

For additional weather information, visit the NWS website.

Five P's of Cold Weather Safety

Remember the five P's of cold weather preparedness:

• 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, elderly family members and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.
• Protect Pets: If cold weather is in the forecast, bring outdoor pets inside or give them a warm shelter.
• 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 them from freezing and breaking.
• Practice Fire Safety: Use safe heating sources indoors. Do not use fuel-burning devices such as grills; they release carbon monoxide, a deadly gas. Also, use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames.
  

For cold weather safety tips, visit the Escambia County website.

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