The National Weather Service in Mobile has forecasted a risk for severe storms across the entire area as a strong cold front pushes across the region late Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Temperatures are forecasted to plunge into the 20s inland with low 30s at the beaches by Christmas morning. A wind advisory has been issued as wind conditions with 20-30 mph gusts inland and up to 35-40 mph gusts at the coast are expected. NWS Mobile has issued a gale warning in effect 3 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24 until 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 25 for the Mississippi Sound, south Mobile Bay and Gulf waters.
The following cold weather shelters will be open for Christmas Eve and Christmas night:
- Waterfront Rescue Mission - 380 W. Herman St. in Pensacola
- Fully open for sheltering men on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 and Christmas night, Dec. 25.
- Ensley First Baptist Church - 50 W. Johnson Ave. in Pensacola
- Open for women and children Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 and Christmas night, Dec. 25. Check-in is between 6-8:30 p.m. and checkout is at 7 a.m. The church asks that women only take one bag for overnight stay.
Escambia County Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore reminds residents, "With cold temperatures and possible isolated storms forecasted for the next few days, we are encouraging residents to prepare their family, pets and home for winter weather. Please also be sure to follow space heater safety tips to prevent home fires. We would like everyone to enjoy a safe holiday."
Citizens are also urged to remember the five P's of cold weather safety:
1. Protecting People
- Dress warmly. Layers can be removed to prevent perspiration and chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers generate warmth when they touch each other.
- Weakened trees and structures from Hurricanes Sally may be impacted by the storms overnight and the gusty winds tomorrow.
- Make sure to tie down or deflate your outdoor holiday decorations to prevent them from being damaged.
2. Pets
- Do not leave pets out in the cold – if you are cold, they are cold.
- Bring all pets indoors and make sure they have a warm blanket to lay on, as well as plenty of food and water.
- If pets must stay outdoors, provide a pet house or other type of shelter and line the bottom with plenty of blankets or hay along with extra food and water. Try installing a light bulb flood light in the pet house at a safe distance away from the pet to avoid burns. The heat from the bulb will help keep them warm. However, do not use light bulbs when bedding with hay.
- When tethering an animal, be sure you are within the legal parameters with Escambia County.
3. Pipes
Water expands when it freezes and can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house if ice forms. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your home by taking a few simple measures to protect your home:
- Use faucet covers, wrap rags, paper, trash bags or plastic foam around faucets and outdoor pipes.
- Cover any vents around your home´s foundation.
- Protect outdoor electrical pumps and bring water hoses indoors.
- Open the cabinets under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around water pipes.
- Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is secure.
- If you have a swimming pool, either drain the circulation system or keep the pump motor running. Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could cause damage.
- Let faucets drip, but do not run a big stream of water.
- If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure the faucets are turned off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.
- If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility for instructions on protecting your water heater.
If Pipes Freeze
- Turn off the water at the shut-off valve and call a plumber for help.
- Do not use lamps or electrical appliances to thaw frozen pipes. Leaking water from thawing pipes could cause a short and you can be electrocuted.
- If you try to thaw your own pipes, apply heat slowly, and move the heat toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot - cracking ice can shatter a pipe.
4. Practice Fire Safety
- Use extra care with supplemental heating units.
- Make sure that all-combustible materials such as drapes or chairs are at least three feet away from any heating unit.
- Avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces and do not leave a fireplace unattended.
- Most importantly, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.
- Smoke Detectors Save Lives! For information about obtaining a home smoke detector, call 850-595-HERO (4376). City of Pensacola residents may call 850-436-5200 for smoke detector installation assistance.
5. Plants
- Water your plants thoroughly. The water will act as an insulator. Dry plants are more susceptible to freezing.
- After watering, cover plants with a breathable material, such as fabric not plastic.
- Place mulch at the base of your plants and do not prune prior to a freeze. Pruning encourages soft growth, which is susceptible to freezing. Spraying the leaves of plants with liquid seaweed will also toughen them against cold.
With below-freezing temperatures, any lingering precipitation accumulation on roads will cause slick travel conditions, even after the rain, sleet or snow ends. It is best to stay off the roads if possible, but follow these safety tips from AAA and AARP if driving on icy roads:
- Bridges freeze before roads. This occurs because a bridge is in contact with freezing air from all sides. A road is in contact only with the air above it.
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
- The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to 10 seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
- Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
- Stay in the right lane. There is no need to drive quickly in snowy or icy conditions.
- Be careful when changing lanes. The area between lanes may have a buildup of crunchy ice, which should be avoided. If you must change lanes, do so gradually while holding the steering wheel firmly.
- Beware of “black ice.” It is ice that forms with almost no air bubbles, which makes the ice transparent and appears the same color as the road surface. On asphalt or dark-colored roads, this ice appears black. Black ice is extremely dangerous because it is so difficult to see. The only way you will know if you have hit a patch of black ice is that you will start sliding. Take your foot off the gas pedal and do not step on the brake; continue driving straight. Hopefully, the patch will end soon and you will be back in control on the road again.
- Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t.
For more information, monitor the local media and social media sources like Escambia County Emergency Management and US National Weather Service Mobile.
