Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Big Bend Florida Counties Through 12:30 PM

Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Big Bend Florida

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Franklin, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties, with 60 mph wind gusts and potential tornado development expected.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for portions of the Big Bend region in Florida. The alert was issued at 11:32 AM EST after radar indicated severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds moving through the area.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the following geographic regions in Florida:

  • Wakulla County
  • Southern Liberty County
  • South central Leon County
  • Franklin County

Impacted locations include Woodville, Carrabelle, St. Marks, Eastpoint, Apalachicola, Crawfordville, St George Island, Wakulla, Franklin, Sopchoppy, Shadeville, Leon Sinks, Royal Bluff, Wakulla Springs, St George Island St Pk, Eight Mile Pond, Beverly, Panacea, Poplar Camp, and Medart.

What You Should Do

For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Residents should remain alert for a possible tornado, as tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado, go at once into a basement or a small central room in a sturdy structure.

Expected Conditions

At 11:31 AM EST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 15 miles east of Stonemill Creek to Eastpoint, moving northeast at 50 mph.

  • Wind: Radar indicates wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
  • Hail: Hail size is estimated up to .75 inches.
  • Impacts: Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
  • Tornado Threat: Tornadoes are listed as possible within this storm system.

Timeline

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning is effective from 11:32 AM EST until 12:30 PM EST on February 15. A separate Tornado Watch remains in effect for the Big Bend and the Panhandle of Florida until 3:00 PM EST.

Source: NOAA Official Notice