In excess of fourteen and a half million people live in the projected path of today’s forecast storm as severe thunderstorms are expected to spread from the northeast Gulf Coast this morning to the Carolinas by early evening.
Damaging winds could be common with this activity and a few tornadoes are also possible, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
In Washington County, Florida, located in the Florida Panhandle, Emergency Operations staff are closely monitoring the situation, with County Commissioners, constitutional officers, public safety officials and department heads quartered in the Emergency Operations Center located in Wausau, Florida.
The group was brought up to speed on the situation, including projected impact from the severe weather, on Thursday morning at 3AM, February 6, 2020, with an update from state emergency operations officials.
According to the National Weather Service, today’s storm is forecast to strengthen across the northern Gulf Basin into southern Alabama by sunrise, and this will encourage substantial storm activity ahead of the surging cold front.
The latest projection is that scattered numerous thunderstorms will be ongoing along the front as the large-scale force approaches this region, with an increasing risk of potentially damaging squall lines.
In addition, a few pre-squall line supercells may also develop with the threat of tornadoes as the well organized squall line progresses across North Florida and Georgia and into the Carolinas during the evening hours on Thursday, departing off the North Carolina coast shortly after midnight.
Washington County, Florida Commission Chairman Tray Hawkins announced a state of emergency in Washington County starting at 8PM on Wednesday evening, and emergency crews are on alert in Washington County for the duration of this weather event.
Hawkins suggests that residents make preparations for extremely high winds and potentially heavy rainfall.
‘Strong winds are expected on Thursday morning’, said Hawkins, ‘with even stronger potentially damaging gusts during the worst part of the storm, and citizens are advised to keep travel to a minimum once the storm hits’.
‘Damaging winds in the range of 60-70 miles per hour are anticipated, and watches and warnings will be posted throughout the storm event. Flash flooding is definitely possible, so motorists should exercise caution’, says Hawkins.
Any reports of downed trees or blocked roads can be made to 850-638-6111, the Washington County non-emergency phone line’.
As of 8PM on Wednesday evening, schools had been closed in Holmes, Jackson, Calhoun and Bay County for Thursday, February 6, but schools were anticipated to be open as usual in Washington County, according to Washington County School Superintendent Joe Taylor.
Additional information will be disseminated as it is available, according to Hawkins.
’We advise our citizens to stay safe and stay off the roads if possible during this storm, and following the storm, beware of downed power lines and other potentially dangerous debris’.
