No reports of structural damage after tornado warnings in Tallahassee

1:25 p.m. update

There were no reports of damage beyond downed trees and power lines in Leon County following a round of severe weather that prompted tornado warnings.

Cameron Young, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, said the warnings were issued after the debris signature from a possible tornado popped up on radar. It was located over unpopulated areas in the Apalachicola National Forest south of Tallahassee International Airport.

"If there was a tornado, that's probably where it was, away from anything," he said.

The storm knocked down trees and power lines around Victory Garden Drive, though Cameron said that was the product of strong straight-line winds. Damage to a trailer and downed trees were reported in Liberty County.

Kevin Peters, director of Leon County Emergency Management, said there were no reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure. He noted the same system "created a lot of havoc for Texas" on Tuesday, including a tornado that caused major damage outside Houston.

"For us, luckily it kind of fell apart by the time it got to town," he said.

10:30 a.m. update

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a tornado warning for Leon County. The warning is in effect until 11 a.m. An alert from the county advised residents: "If in a car or outdoors, seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows." The warning has expired, but a tornado watch remains in effect until noon for the Big Bend. Areas to the east of Tallahassee, including Greenville, Panacea and Wacissa remain under a severe thunderstorm warning until 12:15 p.m.

9 a.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Gadsden, Liberty and Leon counties, northwestern Wakulla County and central Liberty County. The warning, in effect until 10 a.m., was prompted by radar-indicated wind gusts of 60 mph. A tornado warning for the Blountstown area has expired.

A tornado watch has been extended to include Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon and Wakulla counties. It is in effect until 11 a.m.

8:05 a.m. update

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a tornado watch for portions of the Panhandle and western Big Bend. The watch, which means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form, could be extended east as a line of strong storms progresses across the area.

Counties under the watch are Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jackson and Liberty. The watch is in effect until 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Morning update:

A strong squall line capable of producing damaging wind gusts and tornadoes is sweeping across North Florida today.

The line of storms could produce gusts of 60 mph and spawn tornadoes, with strong twisters possible mainly west of Tallahassee, according to the National Weather Service. Widespread gusts between 30 and 40 mph are expected for several hours before the line arrives.

“Right now, the current threats for Tallahassee look to be primarily damaging winds, but a couple of tornadoes can’t be ruled out,” said Karleisa Rogacheski, meteorologist with the Weather Service. “It’s going to be particularly windy.”

The storms are forecast to move through the Tallahassee area between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Widespread rainfall amounts between an inch to an inch and a half are expected.

The Storm Prediction Center upgraded its risk of severe weather for Tallahassee and much of the Big Bend from marginal to slight (2 on a scale of 1 to 5).

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com and follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: No reports of structural damage after tornado warnings in Tallahassee