Hail, Tornadoes, Heavy Wind Possible With Severe FL Storm System

FLORIDA — A slow storm system capable of producing tornadoes and hail is targeting the south central U.S., including Florida, AccuWeather forecasters say.

After storms leave Texas and Louisiana Wednesday, downpours are expected to start ahead of a cold front along the East Coast on Thursday, according to AccuWeather. However, Pensacola could see a storm as soon as Wednesday night.

"The severe weather risk will continue to shift eastward along the southern Atlantic Seaboard. Storms may exit quickly Thursday morning in northeastern Florida, Georgia and much of the Carolinas. However, the threat may ramp up again due to the warmth of the afternoon from northeastern North Carolina to the mid-Atlantic," AccuWeather reported.

Heavy wind, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes are possible hazards with the severe weather set to travel through the Sunshine State and other parts of the coast.

The National Weather Service forecasts showers and thunderstorms to arrive after 2 p.m. Thursday in Tampa Bay. Winds could reach 26 mph, with gusts of 39 mph possible.

"A line of thunderstorms is expected to move into the Nature Coast Thursday morning, then spread south through the day," the NWS said on social media Tuesday. "Isolated storms may be strong to severe, especially north of I-4. Nice weather follows to end the week."

Meanwhile, the Orlando area and all central Florida Atlantic beaches were at a moderate risk for rip current Tuesday, which could increase to a high risk Wednesday at Atlantic beaches of east central Florida, the weather service said.

Dangerous rip current conditions could impact coastal Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Due to relative humidity readings as low as 40 percent from Orlando to the Okeechoee, inland Orlando was considered to be a low risk for fire weather conditions Tuesday.

AccuWeather said Tuesday major cities like Port Arthur, Texas and Jackson, Mississippi, were at risk for severe weather.

"We believe there will be double-digit tornadoes produced by the severe weather outbreak, and multiple tornadoes could be on the ground at the same time on Wednesday despite less-than-perfect atmospheric conditions," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in a report.

Along the East Coast, severe weather could also target Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Maryland.

Here is the latest the National Weather Service forecast for Tampa Bay:

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East southeast wind 6-8 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East southeast wind 9-13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South southeast wind 8-14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 86. Windy, with a south southeast wind 18-26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Thursday Night: Showers before 8 p.m. Low around 63. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 13-17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind 9-13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 9-11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84. North northeast wind around 11 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 88.