Severe Weather Risk for Tallahassee, Orlando and Miami

By Anthony Sagliani, Meteorologist

April 3,2013; 5:36PM,EDT

A potent storm system developing in the Gulf of Mexico will spread heavy rain, thunderstorms and the risk of flooding and severe weather to much of the Southeast Thursday into Friday.
Some locations with the greatest potential for dangerous severe thunderstorms include Tallahassee, Panama City, Lake City, Gainesville, The Villages, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa, to name a few.
Severe storms could even make it as far north as Savannah, Ga.
The thunderstorms on Thursday will be part of the same storm system that spawned severe weather across Texas on Tuesday and Tuesday night.

In Houston, the thunderstorms produced a 63-mph wind gust downtown near the Texas Medical Center. As the storms plowed eastward, they produced hail the size of hen's eggs and nearly 3.00 inches of rain in Galveston.

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The biggest impact from the thunderstorms on Thursday will come in the form of hail as large as golf balls. Hail of this size can damage vegetation and crack windshields.
Damaging winds will also be a major concern with these storms as they blast through the region. In a few isolated locations, winds could gust as high as 60 mph, which could down trees and power poles.

The risk of strong to locally severe thunderstorms will reach South Florida, including Naples, Miami and Marathon, and the Keys Thursday night into Friday.
On a positive note, much of Florida needs rain, and the storm system will provide just that in most areas.

While there is a risk of urban flooding and blinding downpours with the thunderstorms, many locations as far south as the central counties of the peninsula should pick up an inch or so of rain.
Farther north, a soaking rain will also drench areas from eastern Alabama across Georgia into much of the Carolinas.

If you will be out and about in Florida, keep a close eye on the sky. Thunderstorms will move quickly, and you should take shelter at the first hint of threatening weather.
Remember, lightning is one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths due to weather in Florida, and if you can hear thunder, you are at risk for being struck by lightning if outdoors. (Golf carts and gazebos do not offer adequate protection from lightning).
The storms will swing clear of the region by Friday night. Sunny weather is forecast in most areas for both days of the weekend.
Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski contributed to the content of this story