Tornado Watch In Effect For 23 Florida Counties

TAMPA BAY, FL — The National Weather Service in Tampa has issued a tornado watch until 4 p.m. for Tampa Bay.

The tornado watch includes Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Manatee, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.

A line of strong thunderstorms is expected to move through Tampa Bay Thursday morning and afternoon. This storm system has been producing tornadoes across the Southeast, according to the NWS.

The weather service said the system could produce strong thunderstorms, some of which will bring damaging wind gusts, tornadoes and waterspouts in the Gulf of Mexico.

It is also expected to produce a half-inch to 2 inches of rainfall along the already-saturated west coast.

The thunderstorms follow a cold front moving into Florida that is expected to lower Tampa Bay's balmy December temperatures to the mid-50 or near 60 degrees in Friday, said the NWS.

The storm will affect Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties first, bringing heavy rain of 1 to 3 inches, wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and possibly isolated wind damage until about noon.

From 10 a.m. t0 4 p.m., the storm front will shift south to Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, bringing strong wind gusts and about an inch of rain.

As of Wednesday night, at least three people have died in this week's severe weather outbreak in the South, including two in Keithville, Louisiana, Accuweather reported.

A tornado watch means residents should monitor the news for alerts since t ornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.

A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, according to the National Weather Service. There is imminent danger to life and property.

If a tornado warning is in effect:

• At Your House: Go to a safe room or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.
• At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
• Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.
• In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.