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Good morning!
Here’s what we’re covering today:
- Okaloosa County prepares for Winter Storm Enzo as officials announce widespread closures – schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, early voting sites shut down, and both Eglin and Hurlburt limit operations. Government offices across the county are closing as the area braces for possible snow.
WEATHER
Winter Storm Warning issued as Okaloosa braces for possible snow
A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect for Okaloosa County from 6 a.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday, as confidence grows for significant winter weather impacts.
- Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox said Sunday that areas between Highway 84 and the Interstate 10 corridor now appear most likely to receive the highest snow totals, marking a southward shift in the forecast.
Road conditions will likely be hazardous due to ice accumulation, with state and local crews preparing response measures. The Department of Transportation will use chloride salts and ethylene glycol on state roads, while county public works crews will spread sand on local roads if necessary. Officials strongly advise against using two-wheeled vehicles during the weather event.
Residents should take precautions to protect their homes during the bitter cold, Maddox advised. This includes dripping faucets, protecting exposed pipes, and using portable heaters with caution. Additionally, residents should make arrangements to protect outside plants, trees, and animals.
While confidence in snow accumulation decreases north of Highway 84, Maddox emphasized that even minor accumulations could create major impacts due to extremely cold temperatures.
- “It looks like this will be a mostly snow event for the majority of the area,” Maddox said. However, he noted coastal areas might experience a mix of winter precipitation, potentially affecting accumulation amounts there.
The winter storm is expected to impact the area from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. Officials warn that moderate to major impacts are expected regardless of specific snow totals.
Bitter cold temperatures will continue to affect the area through the latter half of the week, Maddox added.
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SCHOOL
Okaloosa schools closed Tuesday, Wednesday due to winter storm
The Okaloosa County School District announced Sunday that all schools will close Tuesday and Wednesday due to expected hazardous travel conditions from an approaching winter storm.
- “We have high confidence that our area will experience winter weather impacting our roadways, making travel to and from school unsafe,” district officials said in a statement after consulting with Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety Patrick Maddox.
The district expects winter precipitation to begin around noon Tuesday, with snow, sleet, and frozen rain likely causing roads, bridges, and bypasses to freeze. Additional freezing is anticipated Wednesday morning, with temperatures keeping accumulated precipitation on the ground throughout the day.
The closure affects all school activities, including extracurricular programs, tutoring, and daycare services for January 21 and 22. Officials will announce their decision about Thursday classes as conditions develop.
WEATHER
Winter storm forces two-day shutdown of Okaloosa early voting sites
The Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Office announced all early voting locations and election offices will close January 21-22 as Winter Storm Enzo approaches the area.
- Elections Supervisor Paul Lux made the decision to suspend operations “out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the public, poll workers, and staff.”
The closures affect:
- All early voting sites in Okaloosa County
- Main elections office locations
- All election-related operations
Operations are scheduled to resume Thursday, January 23 at 7 a.m.
Despite the two-day closure, the elections office will maintain its plan for longer voting hours when sites reopen. Voters can cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on January 23-24. Early voting concludes January 25, when polling places will operate during regular hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WEATHER
Okaloosa cities, county offices close ahead of winter storm
Local governments across Okaloosa County announced Tuesday and Wednesday closures as Winter Storm Enzo approaches the area.
- Okaloosa County will close all non-essential administrative offices both days, officials announced Sunday. The Board of County Commissioners’ regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled.
- Fort Walton Beach‘s Emergency Management Team ordered the closure of non-essential city facilities for both days, citing weather concerns.
- The City of Niceville will close all offices and facilities Tuesday and Wednesday, with normal business hours expected to resume Thursday.
Essential emergency services will continue to operate throughout the winter weather event, which forecasters predict could bring up to 4 inches of snow to parts of the county.
MILITARY
Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field limit operations ahead of winter storm
Eglin Air Force Base will move to mission essential personnel only starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, while Hurlburt Field will operate with mission essential staff for the entire day, officials announced Sunday.
At Eglin, the 96th Test Wing commander ordered most base operations and services to shut down after 11 a.m. Tuesday. Base officials encouraged maximum telework for eligible personnel.
Hurlburt Field has canceled all flying operations for Tuesday. Both bases will close their commissaries and base exchanges.
- While Hurlburt’s child development center and youth center will remain open for mission essential personnel only, Eglin will close these facilities entirely after 11 a.m.
At Eglin, the Breeze dining facility will remain open for meal card holders, but the flightline dining facility will close. The base will maintain limited services, with fitness centers accessible only to those with 24/7 access, and lodging restricted to check-in and check-out services.
Both installations said they will make decisions about Wednesday’s operations based on weather conditions. Base officials advised personnel to stay in contact with supervisors and monitor local forecasts.
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