WEAR-TV — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for parts of Northwest Florida, Southwest Alabama and a large portion of the central Gulf Coast through 8 p.m. Friday. The watch includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, along with Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, and several other counties in Alabama.
Thunderstorms are expected to continue developing and moving across the region through the afternoon and early evening. Most locations will not necessarily see severe weather, but the atmosphere is capable of supporting some storms that become strong to severe. The primary concern will be damaging wind gusts, along with frequent lightning and very heavy rainfall. Hail could also occur with some of the stronger storms.
The watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms somewhere within the watch area, while individual Severe Thunderstorm Warnings may be issued for much smaller areas as storms develop or strengthen. Storms producing damaging winds can bring down tree limbs and power lines, and torrential rainfall could briefly reduce visibility and produce localized flooding.
The greatest opportunity for stronger storms will continue through the afternoon and early evening. The Severe Thunderstorm Watch is scheduled to expire at 8 p.m. Central Time, and the overall severe weather threat should gradually decrease later in the evening as daytime heating is lost and thunderstorms weaken. However, the 8 p.m. expiration does not necessarily mean all thunderstorms or rain will immediately end, and locally strong storms could linger beyond that time…