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Tallahassee, Florida – Strong thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes could impact North Florida’s Big Bend region late Monday morning, placing 15 counties under a Tornado Watch until 2 p.m. as storms track east across the Panhandle.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch 65 includes counties from the eastern Panhandle into the Big Bend, including Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, and Suwannee counties. The watch also extends west to Gulf and Liberty counties and inland toward Columbia and Hamilton counties near the Georgia line.
Tallahassee, Monticello, Madison, and Perry could see wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, intense lightning, and brief tornado development as the storm line moves through the region during the late morning and early afternoon. Heavy rain may quickly reduce visibility along Interstate 10 between Tallahassee and Madison and along U.S. 98 near the coast.
Communities along the Gulf Coast including Apalachicola and Wakulla County could experience strong wind and isolated rotating storms as the system moves toward the Atlantic side of the state.
Emergency managers urge residents to monitor weather alerts closely and identify a safe interior room away from windows in case warnings are issued.
The tornado watch remains in effect until 2 p.m. Monday, and additional warnings may be issued quickly if stronger storms develop across North Florida.
