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Severe weather brings strong winds, lots of hail to Central Florida

By Brian Shields, WFTV.com, Kelly Healey, Monique Valdes and Irene Sans, WFTV.com
By Brian Shields, WFTV.com, Kelly Healey, Monique Valdes and Irene Sans, WFTV.com
7:00 p.m.: Tornado watch has been canceled for Central Florida. Expect gradual clearing, the temperatures to fall into the mid 50s by sunrise Wednesday morning. Sunny and cool Wednesday afternoon, with highs in the low 70s and breezy. 

ORLANDO, Fla. — Photos: Viewer pictures of severe weather

5:00 p.m.: Orange County has a small break from the severe storms which affected much of Central Florida during the afternoon. There is another batch of storms heading toward Downtown Orlando, and it will also affect parts of Sanford, Apopka, Altamonte Springs and Ocoee. After this batch passes, weather will calm down and the severe threat greatly diminishes.

Southern Polk, Osceola and Brevard Counties could still have severe thunderstorms, which could produce frequent lightning, medium size hail and there is still the threat for an isolated tornado.

quick bre of storms, more on the way.

Stay alert, a weaker than previous, but still strong line of thunderstorms heading toward Orlando. Heads-up: Leesburg, Okahumpka, Orlando, Sanford, Apopka, Altamonte Springs and Ocoee. Watch live updates here: http://at.wftv.com/2G0FFVi

Posted by Irene Sans on Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Download: WFTV severe weather app | Safely share your weather photos using #StormAlert9

3:45 p.m.: Northern Brevard County is under a severe thunderstorm warning. The storm is packing a punch with frequent lightning. quarter-size hail and likely 60 mph winds.

The storms are moving east at 45 mph.

3:00 p.m.: East central Orange County and southeastern Seminole County are under a severe thunderstorm warning.

A severe storm is moving quickly toward the northeast over Goldenrod Road and is approaching areas from University of Central Florida to Oviedo.

Watch: Live Doppler 9 HD | Track: Hour-by-hour weather

There have been multiple reports of large size hail.

The warning has extended toward the attractions area.

The tornado warnings have expired.

2:30 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for the downtown Orlando area. A warning has also been issued for southwest Seminole County. 
Tornado warnings are in effect for Orange, Seminole and Lake counties.

2:00 p.m.: Parts of Lake and Orange counties are under a tornado warning. Residents should expect quarter-sized, possibly damaging hail. The warning is expected to last until 2:30 p.m.

Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said residents should stay indoors and in the lower level of their homes. 

All outdoor after school activities in Ormond Beach are canceled.

1:20 p.m.: Strong storms with gusty winds are moving in. Storms north of Orlando are going to be severe, according to Channel 9 certified meteorologist George Waldenberger. 
A storm with 40 mph winds and small hail is heading in the direction of Clermont. 
Marion, Lake and Sumter counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning.
Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said hail is going to be a major threat. 

12:30 p.m. The storms are beginning to line up and move into the Central Florida region.

All Central Florida counties remain under a tornado watch.

Outdoor after-school activities in Marion County have been canceled.

WATCH: Update on the timing of the storms

11:00 a.m.: The weather will remain very unstable across Central Florida through the afternoon, make sure you have at least 3 ways of receiving weather alerts. The temperatures have reached the 60s.

Tornado facts and safety: Everything you need to know

There was a tornado warning and a severe thunderstorm warning across Volusia County earlier Tuesday, which is a sign of an unstable atmosphere. 

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Residents in areas that have not seen rain yet should expect storms to move fast. Some of the storms could be strong to severe at times as they pass across Central Florida. The storms are moving at about 35 mph to the east, but the weather will start to pick up across Central Florida around noon again and continue through the afternoon. 

Tornado watch is in effect until 7 p.m. for our entire region of Central Florida. 

10:30 a.m.: Tornado watches are in effect for all Central Florida counties until 7 p.m.

Northern Volusia County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 11 a.m.

A tornado is possible, according to Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields.

10:00 a.m. : A tornado warning has been issued for Volusia County until 10:30 a.m.
Watch: Don't drive with your hazards on
“Any time from 1 p.m. through the evening, we run the risk of strong to severe storms. Damaging winds and tornadoes are possible. The highest risk time will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” Severe Weather Center 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said.
Watch: Live Doppler 9 HD | Track: Hour-by-hour weather
Shields said residents should stay indoors as the storms worsen near the coastline. 

According to the National Weather Service, the severe storm is possible of producing a tornado from South Daytona and Port Orange to Wilbur by the Sea and Ponce Inlet.

Tornado watches were in effect for Flagler, Seminole, Polk and Lake counties until 7 p.m.

Shields said the weather is associated with a line of storms that will move in from the west and move east.
Read: Storms, possible tornado ravage parts of metro Atlanta
“We have a 30 percent chance (much higher than usual) that there will be damaging winds nearby,” Shields said.
Large hail is also a possibility, Shields said.
Photos: Viewer pictures of severe weather moving in
“There will be gradual clearing later Tuesday night, and then cooler and sunny tomorrow,” Shields said.

Download: WFTV severe weather app | Safely share your weather photos using #StormAlert9

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