Nate: The Latest Info
October 6, 2017
Tropical Storm Nate continues to move toward the northern Gulf Coast. The latest information is in the graphics on this page.
On the forecast track, the center of Nate will move over the northwestern Caribbean Sea Friday, and near or over the northeastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula and the adjacent islands late Friday or Friday night, and then move into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.
For local Tropical Storm Nate information from Escambia County, click here.
Tonight’s High School Football Schedule
October 6, 2017
Here’s a schedule of high school football games in the North Escambia area tonight.
For live scores from select games tonight, like our Facebook page or follow @northescambia on Twitter.
FLORIDA
Northview at Jay
Pine Forest at West Florida
Escambia at Navarre
Madison County at Pensacola Catholic
Fort Walton Beach at Gulf Breeze
Crestview at Milton
Tate – Open
ALABAMA
Escambia County (Atmore) at Satsuma
Clarke Prep at Escambia Academy
Flomaton at Mobile Christian
Monroe County at W.S. Neal
Excel at T.R. Miller
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Scott Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Nate
October 6, 2017
Twenty-nine counties along the Gulf Coast –including Escambia and Santa Rosa — were put under a state of emergency Thursday, as Florida prepares to feel impacts from Tropical Storm Nate.
Gov. Rick Scott visited the emergency operation centers in Escambia and Bay County Thursday, and is expected to return to Escambia County on Friday.
Scott said he issued the broad emergency declaration because the path of the storm remains unknown.
Still, parts of Florida, particularly in the western Panhandle and the Big Bend region, should brace for high winds, rains, storm surges and the potential for tornadoes over the weekend.
“It seems like this is going to impact all the counties that didn’t have major impact from (Hurricane) Irma,” Scott said during a press briefing at the Bay County Emergency Operation Center.
Nate is forecast to reach the northern Gulf Coast this weekend as a Category 1 hurricane, with residents from Louisiana through the Florida Panhandle advised to monitor its progress.
After reviewing the 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Florida State University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Stan Wilcox released a statement that “the Florida State vs. Miami football game will kick off as scheduled at 3:30 p.m. EDT” on Saturday in Tallahassee.
The Legislature is scheduled to begin a committee week Monday in Tallahassee, and no changes had been announced.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose office Wednesday released a preliminary report estimating the agriculture industry suffered $2.5 billion in damages from Hurricane Irma, advised people Thursday not to become complacent.
“There have been many years where Florida has had multiple storms in one hurricane season,” Putnam said. “So don’t think we’ve already checked the box for 2017.”
Florida went more than a decade without a direct hit by a hurricane but in the past 13 months has felt the impact of three named storms, including Irma.
Scott said the state of emergency will allow counties to work with each other, the state and federal governments to ensure needed resources are available for the possible impacts of the storm.
The measure would also allow for tolls to be lifted, the suspension of state entry rules on commercial vehicles involved in relief efforts and for local governments to waive rules regarding contracts and the hiring of temporary and full-time employees.
With seaports, utilities and the state Department of Transportation monitoring the storm, Scott said up to 7,000 members of the Florida National Guard are available for deployment.
The state has about 400 guard members assisting with the removal of debris from Irma in the Keys.
Scott said preparations are needed as Nate could stall in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, intensifying and changing course.
“In Florida, we always prepare for the worst,” Scott said. “While the track seems to be shifting west, we can’t take any chances.”
Scott said officials should have a better idea in the next 24 hours on the potential path of the storm.
“If this storm slows down, there is a greater chance it’s going to a little further to the east,” Scott said. “Also remember, we’re on the bad side of the storm.”
The 29 counties in Thursday’s order were already under a pair of other hurricane-related states of emergency.
Scott on Monday imposed a 60-day statewide emergency to help accommodate people from Puerto Rico who relocate to Florida due to Hurricane Maria.
An executive order on Sept. 4 placed all 67 counties under a state of emergency for 60 days in advance of Irma.
The counties under the latest order are: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Baker, Union, Bradford, and Alachua.
by The News Service of Florida
Volleyball: Royals Defeat Chiefs
October 6, 2017
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-2 Thursday night in Bratt.
Northview won the first set 25-13 before Jay powered ahead to take the second set 25-14. Northview came out on top of the third set, 25-16. Jay won the final two sets by the scores of 25-15 and 15-12.
Teriana Redmond led the Chiefs with 17 digs, 8 blocks and 3 kills. Olivia Porter had 9 aces for the Lady Chiefs.
In junior varsity action, Jay beat Northview 25-14, 25-17.
Northview is scheduled to host Milton on Monday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Students Out On Monday; UWF Closing
October 6, 2017
Escambia County students will be out of school as previously scheduled on Monday.
Monday, October 9, 2017 is a scheduled professional development day for teachers and staff in the Escambia County (FL) School District, students do not attend school on this date. Staff and teachers should plan to attend scheduled professional development training sessions on Monday, as scheduled, unless they are informed otherwise.
All Escambia County schools will be in session on Friday and all sports and extracurricular activities will go on.
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and district administration will monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Nate. All district employees, families and staff are urged to do the same.
Any necessary updates will be announced by automated phone calls, district website updates, through local news media and via school district social media.
University of West Florida
In order to provide the campus community with the opportunity to prepare for potential weather conditions, all UWF locations will be closed Saturday, Oct. 7 at noon through Monday, Oct. 9. This includes all classes, events, campus activities and online courses.
Two Injured In Highway 4 Rollover Wreck
October 5, 2017
Two people were injured in a single vehicle rollover accident near Byrneville Thursday evening.
The driver of Ford Ranger pickup reportedly swerved to miss an animal and lost control of his truck and a loaded boat trailer on West Highway 4 near Dora Killam Road. The pickup and trailer separated, with the truck overturning on the south shoulder of the road and the boat and trailer overturning on the north shoulder.
A male in the pickup was trapped and extricated by firefighters using the Jaws of Life while a female was pulled from the wreckage by bystanders.
Both accident victims were transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital with injuries that were not considered severe.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released. The Century and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott Holds Tropical Storm Nate Briefing In Escambia County
October 5, 2017
Florida Gov. Rick Scott held a briefing on Tropical Store Nate with local officials at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center this morning.
“This storm has the potential to become a hurricane and impact the Florida Panhandle this weekend, and families must be ready,” Scott said. “I have been receiving regular weather briefings from the Division of Emergency Management on Tropical Storm Nate.”
For more on Nate, including the latest forecast maps, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tropical Storm Nate Begins To Brew
October 5, 2017
Gulf Coast residents are advised to keep an eye on a rapidly growing tropical storm off Central America that could impact Florida this weekend and into early next week.
Gov. Rick Scott said Florida’s Division of Emergency Management is monitoring the system, which became Tropical Storm Nate as of 7 a.m. Thursday.
“This storm has the potential to become a hurricane and impact the Florida Panhandle this weekend, and families must be ready,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “Let’s remember, we are still in the heart of hurricane season and while it’s hard to imagine experiencing another storm right now, everyone has to be prepared.”
Scott will met with local officials Thursday morning at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center. Click here for photos and details.
Tropical Storm Nate is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to bring heavy rains to portions of Nicaragua and Honduras through Thursday. And, while expected to strengthen, the size and path of the Nate may be affected by the Yucatan Peninsula or western Cuba before finding the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Kelly Godsey, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Tallahassee, said a lot of uncertainty remains about the track of the storm.
“We could see a track that goes as far west as Louisiana and as far east as the west coast of the Florida peninsula,” Godsey said Wednesday. “So, it is a fairly wide area at this point. That’s another good reason why we need to be prepared and get stuff ready if the storm does zero in on the Florida Panhandle and the Florida Big Bend.”
“Residents along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida should monitor the progress of this system for the next several days and heed any advice given by local officials,” according to the local National Weather Service office in Mobile. “Now is the time to look over your hurricane preparedness list and make sure your supplies are well-stocked. If you are heading to the grocery this week, update your emergency kit by adding extra food and water (for you, your family and our pets) to your list.”
Sunny And Warm Today
October 5, 2017
For the latest tropical update, click here.
Here is your official NorthEscambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 74. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 84. Windy, with a north wind 10 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 35 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Tropical storm conditions possible. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Columbus Day: Hurricane conditions possible. A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Jay Royals Name Homecoming Court
October 5, 2017
Members of the Jay High School Homecoming Court have been named. They are (L-R) Emily Brown, junior; Makenna Locklin, freshman; Kameryn Lewis, senior; Kolby Bray, senior; Autumn Ates, senior; Briannah Lowe, senior; and Lydia Bell, sophomore. Jay will celebrate Homecoming Week October 16-20, with the Royals hosting J.U. Blacksher (Uriah, AL) on the 20th. Prior to homecoming, Jay will host the Northview Chiefs this Friday night and have an open night on October 13. Courtesy photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.