Posted on 01/29/2014 1:35:41 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Residents in the western Panhandle remained indoors and off the roads on Wednesday as freezing temperatures caused a layer of ice and dusting of snow to linger.
Emergency officials said Wednesday afternoon that numerous bridges in the western Panhandle could remain closed through Thursday morning because of the icy conditions.
Temperatures were expected to climb to about 35 degrees but overcast skies would prevent much melting.
After sunset Tuesday, officials closed the two bridges crossing Pensacola Bay and connecting the city to rest of the state.
Panhandle counties further west also announced numerous bridge and road closings.
The region hasn't seen snow and ice for years.
Sporadic power outages were reported throughout the area because of iced power lines.
"Every major bridge and roadway in Escambia County is either closed or experiencing major issues and even neighborhood streets are icy and dangerous," Escambia county officials said in a public-safety update on Wednesday.
The region had a dusting of snow that melted quickly in 2010. It has been more than a decade since the area had snow that remained on the ground for a while, according to weather records.
Schools, government offices, even military bases were closed or operating with limit staffing Wednesday.
Emergency officials warned residents about falling tree limbs and downed power lines caused by the ice buildup.
Farther west, officials in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties also announced numerous bridge and road closings and encouraged residents to stay inside and off the streets until the ice melts. Residents in normally sunny vacation destinations including Fort Walton Beach and Destin were urged to remain indoors and off the icy roads.
John Hofstad, public works director for Okaloosa County, told The Northwest Florida Daily News (http://bit.ly/1fdtdP7) that all roads and bridges in that area were iced over Wednesday.
"There's not enough sand to go around," he said.
Ice Storms really suck.
Schools are closed again for Thursday in at least Okaloosa and Walton county. For the life of me can’t understand why. I’d gone out to the store earlier and the roads were completely clear, not even wet.
how far south did the cold go?
Haven’t heard any word on the orange and ‘mater crops down there freezing.
Pretty far from the arctic to ascribe to the “polar vortex,” but that won’t stop them trying.
The guy on the right is driving a Pacer, so he deserves everything he gets.
Half of Houston closed down, yesterday, due to the predicted ice storm. All of the news reporters had cars flying down the dry roads, behind them.
Looks more like a Gremlin with the flat backlid.
The Pacer was wide and curved, like MooseChelle’s.
But, but, it’s because of global warming.
Our models predicted this long ago.
No, wait.....sorry........
Right now, here in Sierra Vista, Az it’s a balmy (compared to most of the eastern US) 66F.
Both the Gremlin and the Pacer were the “bad guys” in Cars 2, ya know...
As long as it is gone by Blue Angel weekend. If some BS government closure doesn’t ground them again.
My FIL had a Gremlin, and it was a fairly robust car.
Of course since he was coming from a Renault, anything would have seemed reliable.
Its so cold here in Tampa I may need to put a jacket on.
The storm’s name is Leon.
Now they’ve got trembling knees over “Maximus”
Sound’s painful to have ones panhandle covered in ice. Reminds me of my ex wife.
Globull warming alarmist would have you believe that it has NEVER snowed before in Florida or been 100 degrees and a drought in Iowa and that tornadoes are a new phenomenon never before seen in Oklahoma and Missouri. The truth is there is no such thing as “normal” weather.
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