Tornado warnings issued as powerful squall line sweeps across Big Bend
9 a.m. update
The squall line is now past Tallahassee and the severe weather warning has expired, but forecasters have extended a tornado watch until 3 p.m. for the area. The storm has spawned radar indicated tornado warnings for Wakulla, Jefferson and Madison counties in the last half hour.
Storms could continue with heavy wind gusts until just after noon.
8:38 a.m. update
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a tornado warning for northeastern Wakulla County, northwestern Taylor County and southwestern Jefferson County.
“At 831 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over St. Marks, moving east at 45 mph,” NWS said.
The twister was radar-indicated. The tornado warning is in effect until 9 a.m.
8:22 a.m. update
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a severe weather statement for Leon County, Wakulla County, eastern Gadsden County and northeastern Franklin County, which are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9 a.m.
The Weather Service said that at 8:18 a.m., a line of severe thunderstorms was moving east through the area at 40 mph. The line is capable of producing 60 mph wind gusts and penny-sized hail. NWS said the line of storms could damage roofs and siding and down trees.
An earlier tornado warning for Liberty County has expired.
7:55 a.m. update
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for northeastern Liberty County. The warning is in effect until 8:15 a.m.
At 7:45 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located about 12 miles east of Blountstown and moving east at 45 mph.
Locations that could be impacted by the radar-indicated twister include Bristol, Hosford, Lowry, Telogia and Clio.
The Weather Service urged people to take shelter now.
“This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage,” NWS said. “Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”
7:45 a.m. update
All of Tallahassee and neighboring cities are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 9 a.m.
The warning notes the storm could bring 60 mph wind gusts and penny sized hail to the area and to expect power outages and possible damage to roofs, siding and trees.
7 a.m. update
A squall line is approaching the Tallahassee area after bringing a flurry of severe weather warnings to north Florida. In the last hour, warnings have gone up for Quincy, Chattahoochee, Port St. Joe and Blountstown of weather that could include 60 mph winds and pea sized hail. Brief tornadoes are also possible.
As the storms march through the Southeast, power outages are mounting. More than 200,000 customers are in the dark this morning in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Only about 8,000 customers are off the grid in Florida so far.
3 a.m. update
The Tallahassee area and much of North Florida are now under a tornado watch until 9 a.m. Severe weather was raking Walton County as it marched through the western Panhandle toward the Big Bend. A tornado warning was also issued for coastal and inland communities in Walton and Bay counties.
A few tornadoes, isolated quarter-sized hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible ahead of the squall line or as it hits Tallahassee.
ORIGINAL STORY
A squall line with severe weather is expected to push through the area early Sunday morning with a threat of damaging wind gusts, a few tornadoes, and maybe even some hail.
Earlier in the day the Tallahassee area was upgraded to a level 2 of 5 or slight risk risk of severe weather for Sunday after 7 a.m. The threat begins to move in after midnight with all modes of severe weather possible.
Forecasters say to keep your phone charged overnight to receive weather alerts in case a tornado warning is issued.
The storms have already proven deadly as they tore through Texas.
A tornado outbreak threatening parts of the South on Saturday, prompted forecasters to issue a rare “particularly dangerous situation” alert amid severe storms that killed at least one person and damaged homes and a fire station, according to preliminary reports.
Dan Davis is the mayor of Manvel, Texas, a city located in Brazoria County. Davis posted about a death in the county on Facebook Saturday and confirmed the death to USA TODAY via email stating that it occurred around the CR 191 and Highway 35 area of Brazoria County.
Davis also says that four people sustained injuries and that homes are “completely completely destroyed, and a lot of other property damaged.” He also adds that he’s in contact with other Brazoria County mayors and state leaders about recovery efforts for the area.
Millions of people were under tornado watches on Saturday in parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. Watches extended into Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties and could be pushed further east as the threat approaches.
