Tornado Watch 49

Issued

Mar 11, 2026, 11:31 PM CDT (04:31 UTC)

Expired

Mar 12, 2026, 8:00 AM CDT

In force

8 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

1 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:31 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Two or more tornadoes

40%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

20%

Ten or more severe wind reports

50%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

20%

Ten or more severe hail reports

20%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

10%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

70%

• Mesoscale Discussion 226 Tornado watch 48Mar 11, 9:39 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 227 Severe potential...tornado watch likelyMar 11, 11:04 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 228 Tornado watch 48...49Mar 11, 11:57 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 229 Tornado watch 49Mar 12, 3:26 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 230 Tornado watch 49Mar 12, 5:35 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 231 Tornado watch 50Mar 12, 7:50 AM CDT

236 
WWUS20 KWNS 120430
SEL9  
SPC WW 120430
ALZ000-FLZ000-GAZ000-CWZ000-121200-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 49
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1230 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Southern and Eastern Alabama
  Florida Panhandle
  Western and Central Georgia
  Coastal Waters

* Effective this Thursday morning from 1230 AM until 800 AM EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A couple tornadoes possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
  Isolated large hail events to 1 inch in diameter possible

SUMMARY...A band of strong to severe thunderstorms with embedded
cells and bowing segments will continue east across the Watch during
the overnight and into the early morning.  Low to mid-level flow is
forecast to strengthen coincident with gradual moistening and
destabilization of the airmass.  The environment will support a
continuation of storm organization and an accompanying threat for
scattered damaging wind gusts and a tornado risk with the more
intense embedded cells within the line.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 100 statute miles
east and west of a line from 45 miles northeast of La Grange GA to
45 miles southeast of Pensacola FL. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 48...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean
storm motion vector 25035.

...Smith

Tornado Watches in Georgia, 2026Tornado Watches in Alabama, 2026Tornado Watches in Florida, 2026Every tornado watch in 2026

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.