Tallahassee, Florida – A multi-day deadly severe weather outbreak that has affected millions of people across the United States continued into Friday morning, with severe squall-line thunderstorms bringing damaging wind gusts to the South and multiple winds hitting the Tallahassee, Florida, area. A tornado warning has been issued.
Tallahassee Mayor John Daley told FOX Weather that the squall line hit the Florida Panhandle, various severe weather warnings were in effect, and one person was killed in the storm.
“Unfortunately, one death has been confirmed. We ask that everyone continue to keep the family in their prayers,” Daly said.
“And, of course, we are investigating the damage and will continue to do so.”
At least four tornadoes were visible on radar in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday morning, with thunderstorms producing wind gusts of up to 80 mph, according to the FOX Prediction Center.
“The reports I’ve received are wind gusts of 80 to 160 miles per hour…that’s hurricane strength,” Daly said.
“We’ve got some pretty big storms, but the concern is we’re not even in storm season yet.”
The National Weather Service will determine the exact number of tornadoes that formed when storm survey teams are on the scene late Friday or Saturday.
Leon County Emergency Management Director Kevin Peters told FOX Weather, “We’re getting calls for service from all over the county.”
“Our county and city officials are responding to 911 calls and keeping people safe. That is our first step, and our most important step is making sure people are safe. It’s about making sure they’re rescued and safe.”
Storm leaves hundreds of thousands without power
The NWS reports that numerous damage was reported across Tallahassee around 7 a.m. ET as the squall line passed through.
NWS forecasters in the Tallahassee office said they had to evacuate and transfer storm warning authority to a nearby office.
With a tornado warning in effect, the NWS said, “Dangerous conditions are currently occurring in Tallahassee.”
“Please evacuate immediately. Multiple circulation and radar confirmed tornadoes detected on radar.”
All told, as of early Friday morning, more than 300,000 customers were without power across the South during the peak of the storm, more than 200,000 of them in Florida.
The City of Tallahassee said an initial assessment of its power grid after the storm found significant damage to power lines, impacting 11 substations.
Recovery could take into the weekend.
Mutual aid has been requested, leaving more than 66,000 customers without service as of 9 a.m. Friday.
Lance Greenfield was in Tallahassee at the time of the tornado warning and said he experienced heavy rain, wind and the biggest thunder and lightning show he’d ever seen.
“We just lost power,” he said in a Facebook post.
“Thankfully, I just made my second cup of coffee. That really helped.”
Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee is closed Friday due to severe weather. Leon County schools announced they will be closed for tornado recovery efforts.
Wind damage was reported in Alabama, Mississippi.
Wind gusts of 111 mph were reported in Douglasville, Alabama, and gusts of 92 mph occurred in Troy, Alabama, as the line of storms moved through the night.
Numerous reports of damage were received from central Mississippi, including a fallen tree in the town of Harmony that trapped residents inside their homes.
In Clarksdale, gusts caused significant wind damage to homes, destroying power meters and leaving cars and livestock barns in ruins.
A tree fell on top of a semi-truck traveling on Interstate 59 near Meridian.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries from the storms.
Finally a break from the bad weather
The main line of squalls pushed offshore between morning and midday, ending all severe weather watches for Florida.
But the lingering storm has brought occasional heavy rain and thunderstorms, hampering cleanup efforts.
Severe weather could return to the Carolina coast late Friday into the afternoon and evening, with lingering atmospheric instability bringing more thunderstorms, and the Storm Prediction Center putting Wilmington, North Carolina, at risk of severe storms. The gender is level 2 out of 5.
Starting Friday, the frontal boundary is expected to push offshore, which will keep the region clear of thunderstorms through the weekend.
Weather is expected to remain relatively calm across the country over the next few days, with the threat of severe weather expected to be minimal.
