A large thunderstorm swept in from the sea and hit Florida’s Mexico Beach early on Monday morning after warnings of a tornado threat. There was a risk of flash flooding amid heavy rainfall in the area, forecasters warned.
Meteorologist Jim Cantore called the storm “dangerous” in a post on X and said trailers and RVs in the area had been overturned.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Tallahassee had severe thunderstorm warnings in place for Gulf County in the Panhandle of Florida, and both Southern Liberty County and Franklin County in the Big Bend of Florida.
It recorded wind gusts of 60mph. “Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees,” the NWS said.
The severe thunderstorms were “located along a line extending from 7 miles south of Wewahitchka to near White
City to 30 miles southwest of Tyndall Air Force Base, moving east at 20 mph,” the NWS alert said.
The thunderstorm warnings are in place until 9:45 a.m. EDT. The NWS urged people to be alert to the threat of tornadoes.
“Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms,” the NWS said.
“If you spot a tornado go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
