Florida weather: Meteorologist Reed Timmer on tornado-warned storms
Storm chaser Dr. Reed Timmer, reporting from Alford, Florida, updates his travels storm chasing through the southern U.S, which is being pounded by tornado-warned storms on Jan. 9, 2024.
Schools are closed and the National Weather Service has been issuing regular watches and warnings Tuesday as severe storms move through Florida.
Several tornadoes were reported Tuesday morning: one near De Funiak Springs and another near Panama City, according to the National Weather Service.
Numerous damage reports have been coming in from Lower Grand Lagoon near Panama City Beach and Marianna, including an RV park where search and rescue operations were underway.
Whether damage was caused by tornadoes or straight-line winds will be determined by the National Weather Service after an on-scene survey. Also to be determined will be exactly how many tornadoes struck the Panhandle. It’s possible the same tornado could have impacted multiple locations.
Damage video and photos have been posted throughout the morning on social media.
The storm threat is moving into Northeast and Central Florida this afternoon, and tornado watches were issued across more than 30 counties by early Tuesday afternoon.
Damage photos, videos: Videos, photos posted across social media after reported tornadoes in Florida
The storms are associated with a powerful low and associated cold front which is bringing potentially damaging winds, coastal flooding, the chance of tornadoes, and heavy rainfall. The impacts began Monday night and are expected to peak Tuesday morning in the Panhandle and continue through Tuesday evening in the peninsula, according to WeatherTiger chief meteorologist Ryan Truchelut.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday activated the Florida State Guard “in response to potential severe weather anticipated across the state,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.
6:35 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Titusville, Edgewater and Mims until 6:45 p.m.
5:30 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Orlando and Conway and Azalea Park until 6:15 p.m.
5:36 p.m.: A special marine warning was issued for waters off the Volusia-Brevard County line to Sebastian Inlet and including Flagler Beach until 8:30 p.m. Winds greater than 50 knots and waterspouts are possible 20 to 60 nautical miles out, according to NWS.
Waterspouts explained: Florida gets the most lightning strikes, shark attacks … and waterspouts.
5:06 p.m.: Tornado warning in effect for Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell until 5:30 p.m.
5 p.m.: The following Florida counties remain under a tornado watch until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service:
- Brevard
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Desoto
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Lake
- Lee
- Levy
- Manatee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- Sumter
- Volusia
4:12 p.m.: Tornado warnings issued for Tampa, Pinellas Park and Lealman until 4:30 p.m.
4:10 p.m.: The threat of damaging winds and tornadoes continues from far northeast Florida to the Gulf of Mexico this afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center’s Storm Prediction Center.
Low-level and deep-layer shear remains impressively strong across these areas in association with a mid/upper-level cyclone centered over the mid-Mississippi Valley/Midwest. The line of storms is expected to maintain its intensity as it moves eastward across the northern and central Florida peninsula Peninsula over the next couple of hours, NWS reported.
Scattered damaging winds up to 60-70 mph should remain the primary severe threat, but the threat for embedded tornadoes continues.
4:05 p.m.: Tornado warnings issued for Jacksonville Beach, Palm Valley and Atlantic Beach until 4:30 p.m.
3:54 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Interlachen until 4 p.m.
3:50 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a special marine warning for St. Augustine and Flagler Beach until 5:45 p.m. Severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts were located along a line extending from the waters of St. Augustine to Flagler Beach.
3:45 p.m: Tornado warnings issued for Palm Harbor, Citrus Park and Tarpon Springs until 4 p.m.
3:21 p.m.: Tornado warnings issued for Reddick, McIntosh and Sparr until 3:45 p.m.
2:48 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Gainesville, Newberry and Archer until 3:15 p.m.
2:19 p.m.: Several tornado watches are in effect across Florida this afternoon. Conditions remain favorable for tornadoes (some strong), damaging wind, and a few isolated instances of large hail, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
1:51 p.m.: A tornado watch is in effect until 6 p.m. for 11 counties in Northeast Florida:
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bradford
- Clay
- Duval
- Flagler
- Marion
- Nassau
- Putnam
- St. Johns
- Union
1:18 p.m.: A tornado watch is in effect for Marion County, including the cities of Anthony, Burbank and Ocala, until 6 p.m.
1:13 p.m.: Tornado watches have been until 9 p.m. EST for the following counties:
- Brevard
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- DeSoto
- Hardee
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Lake
- Lee
- Levy
- Manatee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- Sumter
- Volusia
12:44 p.m.: The NWS Storm Prediction Center said a line of thunderstorms will move quickly eastward this afternoon, posing a threat for severe/damaging winds and a few tornadoes” across Florida.
Storms will approach the Florida peninsula over the next couple of hours
Collier County Public Schools “has been monitoring this evening’s severe weather forecast.
“Out of an abundance of caution, school and district sites will be closed after 6:30 p.m. This includes after-school programs, extracurricular activities (athletic & performing arts practices), and scheduled leases.
12:25 p.m.: Storms moving east across North Florida. National Weather Service Jacksonville issues severe thunderstorm warning for Jennings, Ellaville and Falmouth until 1 p.m. EST.The storm will contain wind gusts to 70 mph, forecasters said.
“If you receive a severe thunderstorm warning alert, seek shelter immediately!! Damaging straight line winds near 70-mph are moving through our western counties,” forecasters said.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management tweeted. “We are beginning to see impacts from the severe weather that is making its way across the Panhandle.
“Technical Rescue Teams are currently being deployed to complete damage assessments in impacted areas. Please remain in your homes until the storm has passed.”
11:59 a.m.: The National Weather Service Tallahassee warned that storms moving through the area will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued until 1:30 p.m. EST.
Gov. Ron DeSantis arrived for the State of the State speech just minutes after heavy rain and winds had the rest of the city sheltering in place.
He opened his speech by noting that every other government building in Tallahassee is closed except for the Capitol. He said he had declared a state of emergency to ensure impacted residents could get assistance.
“We will handle whatever fallout there is from these dangerous tornadoes,” he said.
The state of emergency includes 49 counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
11:34 a.m.: The tornado threat has cleared Leon and most of Wakulla counties, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
However, there is a potential for embedded tornadoes along a line of storms moving east into south-central Georgia and the rest of the Big Bend.
“There are many reports of trees down so be extremely care on the roads.”
“@FLSERT continues to monitor impacts from the severe weather event that is impacting Northwest Florida and moving East. I urge all Floridians to continue to listen to orders from local officials and to remain indoors until the weather has passed,” Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted.
11 a.m.: Tornado warning issued for Jefferson, Leon and Wakulla counties until 11:30 a.m. EST.
Crews with the Florida Department of Transportation are working across Northwest Florida, clearing debris from roadways and helping first responders with traffic control, detours and road closures. Motorists were encouraged to monitor weather reports and road conditions and be on the lookout for debris and flooded roads.
10:43 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Leon and Gadsden counties until 11:15 a.m. EST. At 10:36 a.m., a confirmed tornado was located 10 miles southwest of Midway, moving northeast at 50 mph, according to the NWS Tallahassee. Hazards include damaging tornado and quarter-size hail.
10:25 a.m.: A potential tornado will skirt northwest portions of Leon County and likely cross Highway 20 in the next few minutes, the National Weather Service Tallahassee warned.
10:22 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Midway, Jamieson and Norfleet until 10:45 a.m. EST.
The National Weather Service reported a 75-mph wind gust at Mexico Beach at 9:31 a.m.Several trees are reported down across Leon County.
9:31 a.m.: A tornado warning is in effect for Sneads, Grand Ridge and Sink Creek until 9:15 a.m. CST.
106-mph wind gust reported in Blue Mountain Beach
Along the coast of the Florida Panhandle, the National Weather Service reported a 106-mph gust in Blue Mountain Beach and a gust to 87 mph in Navarre.
A tornado crossed U.S. 98 north northeast of Magnolia Beach, where a thunderstorm measured an 80-mph gust just before 6:39 a.m., and a trained spotter reported a tornado in Bay County, east of Biltmore Beach, the Weather Service said.
A Weather Service radar detected a tornado debris signature in a storm moving east of Marianna and into Jackson County around 7:30 a.m.
8:42 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued until 8:15 a.m. CST for Chipley, Cottondale and Alford.
8:01 a.m.: A tornado watch remains in effect for Okaloosa County until 8 a.m. CST.
7:56 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for southwest Walton County until 7:15 a.m. CST. At 6:49 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles southeast of Destin, moving northeast at 60.
7:50 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and Blue Mountain Beach until 7:15 a.m. CST.
7:47 a.m.: “Pure chaos in Lower Grand Lagoon as a destructive tornado just ripped through,” according to Jay Lesyk on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Lower Grand Lagoon is located southeast of Panama City Beach in Florida’s Panhandle.
7:46 a.m.: Tornado warning issued for Holmes and Walton counties untikl 7:30 a.m. CST.
7:37 a.m.: The National Weather Service Tallahassee reported a tornado has just crossed Interstate 10 southeast side of Marianna.
“According to radar, appears to still be on the ground.”
7:32 a.m.: “A tornado-warned storm” is moving northeast at 55 mph across southeastern Okaloosa County. Seek shelter if you are in the path of this storm, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee warned.
7:26 a.m.: The National Weather Service has cleared a tornado watch for Escambia County.
7:22 a.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Marianna, Malone, Grand Ridge until 7 a.m. CST, according to the National Weather Service, Tallahassee.
7:15 a.m.: Jim Cantore shared radar images on X, warning residents “Still dangerous tornado heading north towards Alford and Marianna, FL.”
7:07 a.m.: A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida until 2 p.m. EST.
6:48 a.m.: The National Weather Service reported a “confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” was located near Panama City. It was moving northeast at 55 mph.
A tornado warning was extended until 7 a.m. EST for southwest Jackson, Bay, northwest Calhoun and southeast Washington counties in the Florida Panhandle.
5:55 a.m.: The National Weather Service reported a tornado has been confirmed 11 miles southeast of De Funiak Springs. It’s moving northeast at 55 mph. Quarter-size hail also has been reported.
A tornado warning is in effect until 5:515 a.m. CST for east central Walton, southwest Holmes and west central Washington counties.
5:50 a.m.: The Florida Department of Education announced school districts in the following counties will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9, in anticipation of the storms:
- Alachua County
- Bay County
- Bradford County
- Calhoun County
- Citrus County: Schools to have half day on Tuesday, Jan. 9
- Columbia County
- Dixie County
- Duval County
- Escambia County
- FAMU Lab School
- FSU Labo School (Florida High)
- Franklin County
- Gadsden County
- Gilchrist County
- Glades County
- Gulf County
- Hamilton County
- Hernando County: Early release Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Lafayette County
- Lake County: Early release Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Leon County
- Levy County
- Liberty County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Nassau County
- Okaloosa County
- Pasco County
- Santa Rosa County
- St. Johns County: Schools to release one hour early on Tuesday, Jan. 9
- Taylor County
- Union County
- Wakulla County
- Walton County
- Washington County
Colleges/Universities
- Chipola College will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- College of Central Florida will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Florida A & M University will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Florida State University will reopen at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Gulf Coast State College: All campuses will delay opening for employees and students until 11 a.m. CST, Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- North Florida College will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Northwest Florida State College will reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Pasco-Hernando State College will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Pensacola State College will reopen at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- Tallahassee Community College will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 9.
- University of West Florida will reopen at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.
The Escambia Bay Bridge was closed Monday night to commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks and box trucks due to sustained high winds estimated at around 46-48 mph. The bridge will remain closed until further notice.
Tuesday will pose a more dangerous threat with “damaging to destructive winds,” when the squall line pushes through the Big Bend region, the National Weather Service said.
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