Tornadoes, Flooding Expected As Strong Thunderstorms Hit FL

FLORIDA — A storm causing significant snowfall across the Plains will bring wet weather to much of Florida early this week.

A severe thunderstorm risk is already in place for Tuesday and Tuesday night along much of the Sunshine State’s west coast, including the Tampa Bay area, ahead of the tornado-producing storms, the National Weather Service said.

By Monday night, the low-pressure system will move off the Texas coast, bringing severe thunderstorms to states along the Gulf Coast, including the Florida Panhandle, according to AccuWeather forecasters. Downpours, flooding, gusty winds and the threat of nighttime tornadoes are expected.

The severe storms will ramp up again Tuesday into Tuesday evening, bringing flooding downpours, localized damaging winds and tornadoes to north and central Florida, as well as southeastern Alabama and up into eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, forecasters said.

There was a cool start to the day Monday in the Tampa Bay area, which will see more cloud coverage throughout the day with increasing easterly winds, NWS forecasters said.

A severe thunderstorm risk is already in effect for Tuesday and Tuesday night, with an elevated risk forecast for Sarasota County north to Levy County, the agency said. A limited, less severe risk, is expected in Charlotte and Lee counties.

Scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms, some intense, are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening. The biggest threats from the storms are damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and large hail, NWS forecasters said.

The storms will develop Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf as winds continue to increase from the south before moving onshore from north to south into the evening and overnight.

Rainfall totals in most areas will be 1 to 3 inches, while some heavier-hit areas could see 3 to 5 inches, NWS said.

A gale watch and a coastal flood watch have also already been issued for Tuesday and Tuesday night along Florida’s west coast from the Fort Myers area to Chiefland, the agency said.

The greater Tampa Bay area, from Sarasota County up to Hernando County, can expect coastal flooding up to 2 to 3 feet, NWS said. Counties to the north will see the worst flooding, up to 2 to 4 feet, along the coast, while the Punta Gorda and Fort Myers areas could see up to 1 to 2 feet of flooding.

There’s also an elevated Marine Hazard Risk issued for the west coast on Tuesday and Tuesday night with a significant risk in some areas further north, NWS said.

By Wednesday, the winds and clouds will decrease as cooler weather moves in, the agency said. That evening, it’s expected to be cloudy and cool with some showers across Southwest Florida.

Thursday will start off cool along the west coast, becoming partly cloudy and mild as the day goes on, forecasters said.