OCALA, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE, 5:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service (NWS) has dropped the tornado watch for North Central Florida.
Due to the plunging temperatures from the cold front, the city of Gainesville has activated its Cold Night Shelter (CNS) program. The CNS triggers anytime the temperature is expected to dip below 45 degrees. The forecast low for Gainesville tonight (Sunday) is 41 degrees.
UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: The National Weather Service (NWS) has dropped the tornado watch for two counties that were previously included. As of 2:15 p.m., the NWS removed Suwannee and Hamilton Counties.
The fast-moving squall line is bringing gusty damaging winds as it moves east across North Central Florida.
Once the front passes, the NWS says we’ll experience colder, drier weather. The low Sunday night is expected to be 41 degrees.
Monday’s forecast for Ocala from the NWS:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 7 mph.
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED: The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch until 5 p.m. EST for the following counties:
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bradford
- Citrus
- Columbia
- Dixie
- Gilchrist
- Hamilton (dropped as of 2:15 p.m.)
- Lafayette
- Levy
- Madison
- Marion
- Suwannee (dropped as of 2:15 p.m.)
- Taylor
- Union
Counties in the 352 coverage area highlighted in red.
The NWS says storms will move into inland northeast Florida this afternoon and bring the potential for severe storms with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes.
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The NWS issues a tornado watch when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur. It only means they are possible. Severe thunderstorms are defined as having winds of 58 mph or higher and/or hail one-inch in diameter or larger.
