(January 9, 2024 – Bartow, FL) Due to the risk of severe weather, including intense thunderstorms and damaging winds, the City of Bartow will close all City facilities including City Hall, the Public Library, Carver and Polk Street Recreation Centers, the Civic Center, the Bartow Golf Course and Mulligans as well as all parks at 1 p.m. today. Solid Waste service will continue as weather conditions allow. Police, Fire, Public Works, Electric, Water and Wastewater will continue to provide all essential services as directed in the city’s emergency management protocols. City of Bartow Customer Service will suspend working Service Orders such as Service Initiations, Service Terminates, etc., as of noon today. All Service orders received after noon today will be worked on Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service, there is a wind advisory in effect through 7 p.m. for west central and southwest Florida. There also is an elevated severe thunderstorm risk, meaning that scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms are possible. A few may be intense. Storms will begin impacting the area early in the afternoon (2 – 6 p.m. in the Bartow area). Damaging winds, tornadoes/waterspouts and heavy rainfall are possible.
Residents are advised to store or secure loose items on their property as soon as possible and to bring pets inside. Questions or requests for non-emergency assistance after 1 p.m. should be directed to 863.534.5034.
