Tornado Watch Expired For Tampa Bay Area Counties

TAMPA, FL — The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a tornado watch for counties throughout the Tampa Bay area until 10 p.m. Jan. 22. The watch includes Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Polk counties.

A watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Earlier on Sunday, the weather service raised the threat level for severe thunderstorms in the Tampa Bay area to "high."

Forecasters say the primary concerns associated with the cold front moving through the region include isolated tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, large hail and the potential for heavy rainfall.

Residents are urged to stay alert and be prepared for strong storms. Emergency managers in counties across the Tampa Bay area are also warning residents to bring in loose items from their yards, much like they would prepare for a hurricane or other weather threat.

On Sunday morning, the weather service issued a Special Weather Statement for the region.

“A significant outbreak of severe weather is expected across west-central and southwest Florida today and early tonight,” the statement warned. “Supercell thunderstorms are expected to develop later today ahead of a squall line that will move quickly through the region later this afternoon and evening.”

Forecasters say Sunday’s storms have the potential to produce “large hail, gusty winds 60-80 mph and tornadoes, some of which could be strong and long-lived.”

The weather service is asking residents and visitors in the region to monitor weather closely and to heed warnings if they are issued. “These could be very dangerous storms,” the statement warned.

The storms have also prompted the weather service to issue a high surf advisory, lake wind advisory and coastal flood warning. Beach goers are also being warned of the potential for rip currents. The Skyway Bridge was closed to high-profile vehicles as of late Sunday morning as winds up to 41 mph had been clocked along its expanse.

Severe weather in the south has also been blamed for 11 deaths in central and southern Georgia.

Catherine Howden, a spokeswoman for Georgia’s office of emergency management, told the New York Times and the Associated Press that there had been 11 storm-related deaths and 23 injuries. Howden said there had been up to 20 reports of tornadoes and the severe weather was not expected to stop until Sunday night.

According to the Associated Press, the deaths occurred in Cook, Brooks and Berrien counties. The deaths are said to be weather-related but it has not been specified whether tornadoes were the cause.

The potential for rain and windy conditions is expected to stick around into the daytime hours Monday.

For an extended forecast in your neighborhood, visit your local Patch's homepage.

Patch’s Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this story.

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