ORLANDO, Fla. — A line of severe storms that’s been hammering the deep south Wednesday is swinging toward the Florida panhandle this evening, Channel 9 Certified Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry said.

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A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Flagler County until 1 a.m., Terry said. A tornado watch is in effect for the Tallahassee area until 11 p.m., Terry said.

Wind gusts in Jacksonville already reached 59 MPH before 10:30 p.m., Terry said.

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This line is expected to weaken overnight, but models depict some heavy storms moving into the northern part of the region after midnight to 1 a.m. and moving steadily south toward metro Orlando before daybreak, Terry said.

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Video: Debris cleanup underway in Brevard County after tornado Debris cleanup is underway in Brevard County after a tornado touched down earlier this month. (Melonie Holt, WFTV.com)

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