Historically Cold Weather Forecasted

According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, a strong cold front will push quickly through the area this evening, Sunday, Jan. 5 and bring a blast of arctic air that is so strong it can be considered historic in nature. Records are expected to be broken in our area Monday night, with a forecast low of 16 degrees breaking the record of 19 degrees set in 1924.  This temperature will be the second coldest ever recorded at Pensacola in over 130 years for the first week of January.  Citizens are urged to remember the five P’s of cold weather safety- protect people, protect pets, protect plants, protect pipes and practice fire safety.

The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued the following weather advisories:

• A freeze warning in effect from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday.
• A hard freeze warning is for Monday evening, meaning temperatures 20 degrees or lower or highly likely, from 9 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
• A wind chill advisory for interior areas late tonight into Monday morning for wind chill values dropping as low as 6 to 10 degrees.  A wind chill advisory in effect from Monday evening to Tuesday morning for values dropping to as low as zero to 7 degrees.
• A wind advisory is in effect tonight through Monday afternoon for northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph in the wake of the front with gusts up to 35 mph possible.

The five P’s of cold weather safety include:

• 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 the 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.  Two cold weather shelters for the homeless will open Sunday and Monday nights, one in Milton at Ferris Hill Baptist Church located at 6848 Chaffin Street and the other at Community of Christ Church located at 2111 Presidio Street in Navarre .
• 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 the dangerous temperatures.
• Protect Pipes: Cover pipes and allow outdoor faucets to slowly drip to prevent 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, which is a deadly gas. Also, make sure to use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames. In the event of long-term power outages, be extremely careful when using generators, lanterns, gas powered appliances or when cooking on charcoal grills or gas grills. These appliances produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide which is a deadly, invisible and odorless gas that can cause poisoning in only a matter of minutes.  Equipment or appliances that produce carbon monoxide should never be used indoors. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not stop carbon monoxide build-up.