A fast-building severe thunderstorm warning lit up parts of Collier County on Wednesday afternoon, putting isolated Everglades communities and sprawling parklands on edge as forecasters flagged the potential for damaging winds and small hail. Radar indicated the strongest cells could pack wind gusts up to 60 mph with hail roughly the size of a penny, and the warning was set to stay in place through 3:45 p.m. EDT. The storm line pushed across mostly unpopulated stretches of Big Cypress and Everglades National Park, but it also moved over major cross-state routes, including I-75 and U.S. 41.
Official Warning and Hazards
The National Weather Service detailed the severe thunderstorm warning in its formal bulletin, highlighting the risk of wind gusts up to 60 mph along with penny-size hail and placing portions of western Collier County under the alert. Forecasters cautioned that the gusty winds could snap tree limbs and make driving treacherous for anyone caught on the road, according to the National Weather Service.
Where the Threat Was Focused…