Severe storms possible Saturday across North Florida
Severe storms are possible Saturday across North Florida and South Georgia as a warm front over the Gulf of Mexico brings unstable air as it moves inland.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said that confidence in the overall threat has increased, though there s more uncertainty than usual about how it plays out. As warm and moist air continues to move north through the afternoon, the severe threat will increase across the entire forecast area, the Weather Service said. Unfortunately, the mode of severe weather (squall line, individual cells or a mixed mode) is still largely uncertain at this time so all portions of the tri-state region should be prepared for severe weather throughout the day.
/ Saturday brought severe weather warnings to the Big Bend down to Central Florida.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee says 4 tornadoes touched down in Walton and Bay counties during Saturday’s severe weather.
Two were rated EF1. They hit Lynn Haven and Walton County near the Shoal River.
The other was a large waterspout that came ashore near Laguna Beach, destroying a home and a convenience store. It was rated EF2 with maximum winds of 125 miles per hour.
Tags
Strong storms with periods of heavy rain are possible over the coming days as a cold front stalls over the Tallahassee area.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said showers and storms will move in from the west today as the cold front approaches and continue into Friday. However, the most powerful storms are expected Saturday. On Saturday, a second, stronger frontal system approaches bringing more widespread showers and thunderstorms to the area, the Weather Service said. With increasing wind shear, tornadoes and heavy rainfall will be the primary hazards on Saturday, and any heavy rainfall received on Friday could lead to higher sensitivity to rainfall on Saturday.
Ashley White/The Daily Advertiser, Bobby Ardoin/Special to The Daily World
PALMETTO, La. – At least two deaths and multiple injuries have been reported in Louisiana following severe weather Friday night and Saturday morning.
One person was killed and seven injured after at least one tornado touched down in St. Landry Parish. Separately, in Shreveport, a 48-year-old man was killed when a tree fell on his mobile home amid strong winds, said Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator.
The same storm system caused significant damage 400 miles to the east in Bay County, Florida, where an image showed the remains of a Panama City Beach convenience store with its roof and walls largely gone and aisles of merchandise intact.
Severe storms expected today with strong squall line
Strong storms are expected today in North Florida and South Georgia as part of a severe weather outbreak across the South. Numerous severe storms are expected today as a squall line move through the region, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee said. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 70 mph, although brief tornadoes and hail are also possible.
The storms are expected to arrive 7-11 a.m. Eastern time in the Florida Panhandle and southeast Alabama and 11-5 a.m. in the Big Bend and Southwest Georgia.
Forecasters said the severe weather threat will diminish this evening.