• Severe weather conditions are forecasted in the overnight hours of Monday night (Jan. 8) into Tuesday morning (Jan. 9) for our area. Santa Rosa County has been placed under an enhanced risk for severe weather.
• Non-thunderstorm winds will increase after 4 p.m., with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph likely. Gusts up to 60 mph are possible along the coast.
• A High Wind Warning is in effect for Santa Rosa County until 9 a.m. Tue., Jan. 9. South winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected.
• Two potential rounds of storms possible – the first round after 10 p.m. tonight with scattered thunderstorms. The second round possible with a squall line moving through after 2 a.m., clearing the area by 9 a.m.
• Damaging wind gusts 70-80 mph are possible
• Tornadoes – a couple of tornadoes could be strong (EF2+)
• Storm total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts. Isolated flash flooding is possible, mainly in poor drainage areas.
• Coastal and marine impacts include high surf and high risk of rip currents, minor to moderate coastal flooding possible late tonight and widespread storm conditions (frequent gusts greater than 48 knots) likely across all marine zones. Seas 13 to 17 feet offshore and 3 to 5 feed within the bays.
County Offices
• County offices and facilities, including the Central Landfill and Jay Transfer Station, will open at 10 a.m. on Tue., Jan. 9.
• Emergency Management will activate to a Level 2 Modified (emergency management staff only) at midnight for this severe weather threat.
Other office closures
• The following offices will open at 10 a.m. on Tue., Jan. 9:
• 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 Tue., Jan. 9 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.
Santa Rosa County District Schools
• Per the Santa Rosa County School District, all Santa Rosa County public schools have cancelled all after-school activities for Mon., Jan. 8. This includes all sports and the District 1 Town Hall. Community schools/latchkey will remain open until 6 p.m.
• School and after-school activities for Tue., Jan. 9 have been cancelled. Students and staff will resume their regular schedules on Wed., Jan. 10.
• Updates can be found on the school district website at www.santarosaschools.org/en-US.
Navarre Beach Pier
• The Navarre Beach Pier will close at 4 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 8 and will reopen after noon on Tue., Jan. 9.
Roads
• Public works crews will be on standby to respond to any downed trees on county roads once it is safe to do so.
• The Parkmore Plaza Drive closure will be delayed until the severe weather threat passes.
• Report road issues at www.santarosa.fl.gov/FormCenter/Public-Works-7/Citizen-Work-Request-48.
• Any road closures can be viewed at www.santarosa.fl.gov/293/Current-Road-Bridge-Closures.
Bridges
• Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement close bridges when sustained winds are greater than 39 mph. Not all bridges will close or close at the same time. Updates will be sent if any bridges are closed.
Sand
• The county’s public works department has sand available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following locations:
• 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 Rd. and Carroll Rd. in Milton
• Residents must provide their own sandbags and shovel. Bags can be purchased at many local hardware stores. For information on how to make and use sandbags, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
Shelters
• There are no public shelters open. Residents who do not feel safe in their homes are encouraged to stay with family, friends or neighbors who live in a well-built, site-built structure.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
• The Santa Rosa area including Hwy. 399, J. Earle Bowden Way, between Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach is closed. Park staff will assess conditions Tuesday morning to determine if the road and Santa Rosa area can be reopened.
Prepare now for severe weather. Make sure all family members know the plan. Here are some ways to be prepared:
• Have multiple ways of receiving alerts.
• Clean up any items in your yard that may become projectiles due to high winds. This includes patio furniture, decorations and plants.
• Every home should have a NOAA weather radio, the first line of defense before relying on alerts through a smartphone.
• Smartphone weather apps are also an excellent delivery source of severe weather information and other disaster updates – especially in the overnight hours. Santa Rosa County’s alert app – AlertSantaRosa.com – provides updates on emergency incidents (hazardous materials as well as severe weather) in the county at addresses of your choice (work, school, home, etc).
• Be sure that you have not disabled your alerts on your phone and that it is fully charged and within reach. If you use the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone at night, turn it off so that any emergency calls may come through.
• Have a kit with supplies ready to go when a tornado warning is issued. The best place to shelter during a tornado warning is on the lowest floor of a well-built, site-built structure away from windows and doors. Move to a small, interior/inside room. Put as many walls as you can between you and the outside. Suggested items to include in your tornado kit are:
• A bike helmet or some form of head protection for each family member. Don’t forget to put on shoes!
• A flashlight or electric lantern.
• Charged cell phone power bank.
• A whistle or air horn in the event you are trapped under debris.
• First aid kit.
• Know where you will go (interior rooms, basement – never a car or mobile home) if a tornado warning is issued and don’t forget your pets!
For current weather events, visit www.weather.gov/mob. For information on preparing for disasters, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency. Follow Santa Rosa County Emergency Management on Facebook for weather updates.