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Severe Thunderstorms Possible in Central Florida This Evening, Heavy Rain On The First Coast

Jeff Huffman

The same storm that is delivering "crippling" amounts of ice and snow just to our north, could bring a round of strong thunderstorms to parts of the state this evening.

Conditions appear to be coming together for the possibility of severe weather across portions of Central Florida early this evening. 

A powerful winter storm is already crippling much of Georgia and South Carolina with significant ice and snow accumulations, and the same cold front associated with this system will swing through the state later today. 

A line of thunderstorms ahead of it will have the potential to produce wind damage, small hail, and even an isolated tornado or two.  The front will clear the peninsula by daybreak and Thursday will be calm, although much colder.

REGIONAL IMPACTS

NORTHEAST FLORIDA
• Heavy rain primarily between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Very low chance for minor wind damage 4 to 6 p.m.

NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA
• Heavy rain, with some lightning, primarily 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• Low chance for wind damage south of a line from Cedar Key to Gainesville to Palatka
• Very low chance for an isolated tornado in Citrus, Marion, Sumter, and Flagler counties

CENTRAL FLORIDA
• Severe potential is greatest 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tornado potential is highest with any discrete cells that form along a weak Atlantic sea breeze near or east of the Orlando metro area between 6 and 10 p.m.
• Wind damage potential is highest along the squall line as it advances through the Tampa Bay metro between 4 and 8 p.m.

TREASURE COAST
• Heavy rain and gusty winds will accompany the front 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Very low chance for minor wind damage and an isolated tornado with any cells that form along the Atlantic sea breeze near the coast between 5 and 8 p.m.

SOUTH FLORIDA
• Very low chance for minor wind damage and isolated tornado with any thunderstorms that form near the Atlantic sea breeze and move toward shore between 5 and 8 p.m.

You can follow Jeff Huffman on Twitter @huffmanweather.

Jeff Huffman is Chief Meteorologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In addition to his full-time position at the university's radio and television stations, WUFT-FM/TV and WRUF-TV, the latter of which he co-founded, Huffman also provides weather coverage to public radio stations throughout Florida