Tornado watch issued until 9 pm for Central Florida
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Central Florida until 9 p.m. as a severe weather system that has already spawned damaging tornadoes in the Panhandle moves across the state.
A violent storm with 55 mph winds and hail moved through the Florida Panhandle and into parts of Alabama and Georgia by sunrise Tuesday, along with at least several reports of radar-confirmed tornadoes, the National Weather Service said. A wind gust of 106 mph was recorded before dawn near the coast in Walton County, Florida.
A tornado watch means that tornados are possible within an area and that residents should be prepared and on alert.
By midday, Gov. Ron DeSantis had issued a state of emergency for most of the state.
“To ensure that there are no unmet needs following the severe weather impacting Florida, I am issuing a state of emergency for 49 counties,” Gov. DeSantis posted this morning. “I urge all Floridians to heed warnings from local officials as this storm continues across the state.”
Local government officials closed most of their offices by 3 p.m. to allow employees to get to their homes safely before the storm’s most dangerous impacts. Those governments included Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, along with the cities of Winter Springs, Oviedo, Kissimmee and St. Cloud.
At 11 a.m., Florida State University in Tallahassee told its students and faculty to seek shelter due to a tornado warning. “A Tornado Warning has been issued for FSU Main Campus in Tallahassee. Seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building’s interior room or hallway, away from doors & windows and remain there until the warning has expired,” the school said on social media. No damage was reported.
Sprawling storm wallops Florida with tornado reports, damage
Tuesday will be mostly dry, with breezy conditions will continue throughout the night as Central Florida braces for rain and the possibility of tornadoes. Southeast winds will range from 15 to 25 mph inland with gusts up to 30 mph, according to NWS Melbourne. On the coast, winds will range from 20 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph.
Lake County schools will send students home early, according to a press release from the county. They are also excusing students who choose to stay home.
Duke Energy on Monday warned customers to prepare for widespread power outages across Florida by keeping handy an emergency storm kit that includes vital medicines, water, nonperishable foods and other supplies. Residents also should have their cell phones, computers and other electronic devices fully charged by Tuesday, and keep a portable weather radio on hand to monitor forecasts.
Then the worst weather could begin as early as 3 p.m. with strong thunderstorms and wind gusts reaching between 40 mph and 60 mph as the weather system from the Gulf of Mexico moves east across the Florida peninsula, before heading north along the Atlantic coast.
The heavy storms and winds should last until about 7 p.m., impacting the afternoon drive home for many residents in the Orlando area. Temperatures will stay within the mid-60s to low-70s range. Boating conditions will be hazardous Tuesday evening, with seas ranging from 7 to 10 feet.
There is a small craft advisory in place on the nearshore waters.
