Update 2:34 p.m. News Channel 8 is doing a livestream as the storm line moves through. https://www.wfla.com/wflanow/
Update 2:22 p.m. The FAA places Tampa International Airport under a ground stop for incoming flights due to weather conditions.
TAMPA -- The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for much of north and central Florida until 5:00 p.m. eastern.
The watch includes Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties, as well as counties north of Polk and Osceola, including Orange and Seminole counties (Orlando-Sanford).
Photo: NWS
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 86
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1040 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2024
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
North and central Florida
Coastal Waters
* Effective this Wednesday morning and afternoon from 1040 AM
until 500 PM EDT.
* Primary threats include...
A couple tornadoes possible
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY...A pre-frontal band of thunderstorms will continue to
develop slowly southeastward from north into central Florida through
the afternoon. Embedded storms will be capable of producing
damaging winds of 60-70 mph, while the potential for a couple of
tornadoes will be greater with any isolated supercells that can form
just ahead of the main line of storms.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles
north and south of a line from 60 miles south southwest of Cross
City FL to 25 miles east of St Augustine FL. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 85...
AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 0.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 25040.
...Thompson