Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 33, NWS Tallahassee, FL

May 7, 2026Walton County, Washington County, Florida

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at May 7, 2026, 10:12 AM CDT for Walton County, Washington County, Florida. It was in force for 33 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 7, 2026, 10:12 AM CDT (15:12 UTC)
Expired
May 7, 2026, 10:45 AM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Walton County, FL, Washington County, FL

The radar

The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 5 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:14 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 7, 10:36 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGVernon, FLNumerous downed trees in Vernon. One building with roof damage.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 7, 1:58 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 298 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2026-05-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2026-05-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 185 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
507 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
83 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
185 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
256 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

189 
WFUS52 KTAE 071512
TORTAE
FLC131-133-071545-
/O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0033.260507T1512Z-260507T1545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1012 AM CDT Thu May 7 2026

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Walton County in the Panhandle of Florida...
  Southwestern Washington County in the Panhandle of Florida...

* Until 1045 AM CDT.

* At 1011 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located near De Funiak Springs, moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  east central Walton and southwestern Washington Counties, including
  the following locations... Red Head, Eucheeanna, Holmes Valley,
  Millers Ferry, Red Bay, Pleasant Ridge, Live Oak, Knox Hill, and
  Rock Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3071 8617 3063 8570 3044 8575 3044 8577
      3064 8620
TIME...MOT...LOC 1511Z 290DEG 40KT 3066 8612 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

38-GODSEY
1 follow-up statement
048 
WWUS52 KTAE 071522
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1022 AM CDT Thu May 7 2026

FLC131-133-071545-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-260507T1545Z/
Walton FL-Washington FL-
1022 AM CDT Thu May 7 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL WALTON AND SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

At 1021 AM CDT, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located 12
miles southeast of De Funiak Springs, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Vernon, Live Oak, Red Head, Eucheeanna, Holmes Valley, Millers Ferry,
Red Bay, and Knox Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3067 8606 3063 8570 3044 8575 3044 8577
      3058 8608
TIME...MOT...LOC 1521Z 286DEG 42KT 3063 8595 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

38-GODSEY

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 7, 8:53 AM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Issued at 953 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026
  • There is a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather today across southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle and western Big Bend. Damaging winds are the primary concern, although a tornado or two and some hail are also possible.
  • Beneficial rain is on the way the next several days. Chances of 1.0" or more of rain are highest (60% to 80%) north and west of a line from Panama City, FL to Tifton, GA and taper off to less than 1% in the Southeast Florida Big Bend.
  • Patchy fog is possible again this morning. Be sure to give plenty of space between you and the car in front of you if you encounter any.
Area forecast discussion, May 7, 8:53 AM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
953 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

...New UPDATE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 953 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

- There is a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather today across
  southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the Florida
  Panhandle and western Big Bend. Damaging winds are the primary
  concern, although a tornado or two and some hail are also
  possible.

- Beneficial rain is on the way the next several days. Chances of
  1.0" or more of rain are highest (60% to 80%) north and west of
  a line from Panama City, FL to Tifton, GA and taper off to less
  than 1% in the Southeast Florida Big Bend.

- Patchy fog is possible again this morning. Be sure to give
  plenty of space between you and the car in front of you if you
  encounter any.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 953 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

Adjusted PoPs for today to hopefully accurately show the trend
for today. Otherwise, no further updates appeared necessary.
Showers and thunderstorms, some strong to severe, are expected
through the day for the region except the SE FL Big Bend.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today and Tonight)
Issued at 216 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

There is a Slight Rick (Level 2 of 5) of severe weather today across
southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the Florida
Panhandle and western Big Bend. Damaging winds are the primary
concern, but a tornado or two and some hail cannot be ruled out. Dew
points have jumped into the upper 60s to lower 70s in advance of
this line with 1000-1500 J/kg of SBCAPE and 40+ knots of 0-6km Bulk
Shear. Add in the 35-40 knot low-level jet moving east and this
supports the potential for bowing line segments and/or supercell
structures.

Another thing to monitor is the flooding potential. Yes, we're in a
drought, but some of the CAM guidance continues to paint a swath of
2" to 4" with locally higher rainfall totals across portions of our
southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia counties. If this rain
were to fall over urban or poor-drainage areas, it could lead to
localized flooding issues.

The line is forecast to slow to a crawl and weaken some as it tries
to enter the southeastern Florida Big Bend later this afternoon. It
weakens because the better upper-level support is quickly exiting to
the northeast and the low-level jet is pushing east a decent clip.
Add in somewhat limited instability and abundant cloud cover and the
line is forecast to weaken as it pushes southeast. Still, locally
heavy rain and gusty winds will remain a concern as precipitable
water values (PWATs) are forecast to remain over 1.7" today with
the flow nearly parallel to the front. Unfortunately, the rain
mostly fizzles out before clearing the southeastern Florida Big
Bend.

The cold front is now forecast to push into the northeastern Gulf,
allowing for drier conditions to prevail later tonight. Temperatures
this afternoon will vary from the upper 70s to near 80 across our
northern Georgia and Alabama counties to the upper 80s to near 90
across the Florida Big Bend and south-central Georgia counties. Lows
take a dip into the upper 50s to lower 60s across our northern
counties and remain in the middle to upper 60s across our Florida
counties.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 216 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

Thursday's cold front is now forecast to sag a little more south
than originally thought, which lowers Friday morning's rain
chances slightly. The stalled front is forecast to ebb north later
Friday afternoon into Saturday morning, allowing a wave of rain
to roll along it Friday night into Saturday morning. Yet another
wave of rain is forecast Sunday before a cold front scours out the
moisture and rain chances on Monday.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 710 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

A squall line of showers and thunderstorms will slowly sink south
through the day, affecting all TAF sites through the afternoon.
The storms will be capable of damaging wind gusts. Heavy rainfall,
frequent lightning, and even small hail will be possible. Flight
conditions are expected to be degraded during storms with lowered
vsbys in heavier storms. MVFR/IFR cigs are ongoing and expected to
continue through the day before returning to VFR later this
evening. Outside of storms, it will be breezy with gusts up to 25
kts with winds shifting to northerly following the frontal passage
later this evening.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 216 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

Light to moderate southwesterly breezes today ahead of a cold front
will clock around to the north to northeast Friday as the cold front
stalls just south of our waters. Southerly to southwesterly breezes
return over the weekend as the stalled front lifts north as a warm
front. Showers and storms are forecast more often than not through
the weekend. Seas will generally run between 1 to 3 feet through the
weekend.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 216 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

The main fire weather concerns today will come across the
Southeastern Florida Big Bend. High dispersions, warm temperatures,
and very dry fuels will lead to elevated to critical fire weather
conditions across Lafayette, inland Taylor, and inland Dixie
counties today. Additionally frequent gusts of 20 to 30 mph are
possible across these areas ahead of the front. There is a low, 10
percent, chance those areas experience MinRH less than 35 percent
later this morning into the early afternoon before recovering above
50 percent. Additional fire weather concerns are possible Friday,
but dispersions should be lower thanks to more clouds and lower
winds Friday afternoon.

Elsewhere, a cold front will approach the area with a line of
showers and storms moving from northwest to southeast across the
region through the morning and afternoon. A wetting rain is forecast
for most of the area outside of the southeastern Florida Big Bend as
the line is forecast to dissipate as it nears those districts. Light
and variable winds combined with ample clouds and developing rain
will lead to pockets of low dispersions Friday afternoon. Additional
rain chances are possible Friday into early next week as the front
stalls but amounts still remain somewhat uncertain and dependent on
where the fronts stalls out.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 216 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

While no significant flooding is anticipated the next several days,
localized flooding is possible today should any of the higher
rainfall totals verify, especially over more urban or low-lying
areas.

Beneficial rain arrives today as a line of showers and storms moves
through most of the area. Precipitable Water Values (PWATs) in
excess of 1.7" and flow parallel to a cold front will lead to the
potential of 1.0" or more of rain. The most likely locations for
that stretch from the Florida Panhandle into southwestern Georgia.
There's also a 20% to 40% chance of rain totals exceeding 2.0",
especially across southeastern Alabama into southwestern Georgia
west of the Flint River. However, those in the southeastern Florida
Big Bend aren't expected to get much rain, generally less than 0.10"
That's just from today's rain.

Additional rain chances are in the forecast Friday afternoon and
again Saturday and Sunday. This is thanks to the cold front stalling
in the northeastern Gulf later tonight. It'll inch north Friday
afternoon, providing that chance for rain. Another wave of rain is
forecast to slide through the area Saturday morning into the early
afternoon Saturday and another one on Sunday. All told, rainfall
totals are forecast to be between 1.0" to 3.0" along and north of I-
10. Meanwhile, the parched southeastern Florida Big Bend will
struggle to see more than 0.25" to 0.50" of rain.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage by calling the
office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee   89  66  84  66 /  50  10  30  30
Panama City   82  67  81  68 /  50  10  40  30
Dothan        81  61  76  62 /  80  10  20  50
Albany        82  60  77  62 /  90  10   0  40
Valdosta      88  64  82  64 /  60  20  10  30
Cross City    87  70  89  68 /  10  10  10  10
Apalachicola  82  70  79  69 /  20  10  20  20

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for FLZ108-112-114.

GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Reese
LONG TERM....Reese
AVIATION...Montgomery
MARINE...Reese
FIRE WEATHER...Reese
HYDROLOGY...Reese

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 7, 8:56 AM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
956 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0824 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNE Geneva Municipal  31.08N 85.85W
05/07/2026                   Geneva             AL   Public

            Report of powerlines down near AL 85 and
            East Neva Drive in RD.

&&

rh
Local storm report, May 7, 9:47 AM CDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1047 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0936 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SE Pittman            30.92N 85.79W
05/07/2026                   Holmes             FL   Public

            Report of wind damage on JW Miller Road.

&&

rh
Local storm report, May 7, 9:54 AM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1054 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0954 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bethlehem               30.92N 85.74W
05/07/2026                   Holmes             FL   911 Call Center

            Several trees reported down on Hwy 177.

&&

rh
Local storm report, May 7, 9:58 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1058 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1015 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Bonifay             30.78N 85.68W
05/07/2026                   Holmes             FL   911 Call Center

            Report of a tree down on Hwy 79 N near
            Bonifay.

&&

rh
Local storm report, May 7, 10:11 AM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1111 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1010 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Graceville          30.94N 85.52W
05/07/2026                   Jackson            FL   911 Call Center

            Tree reported down on Hwy 77 near
            Graceville.

&&

rh
Local storm report, May 7, 10:12 AM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1112 AM EDT Thu May 7 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1010 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 WNW Graceville        30.96N 85.53W
05/07/2026                   Jackson            FL   911 Call Center

            Tree reported down on Mill Creek Road.

&&

rh

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 7, 2:36 AM CDTRip Current StatementTAEBay, Gulf, Walton38 hr
May 7, 7:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEHolmes, Jackson, Walton56 min
May 7, 8:00 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTAEHolmes60 min
May 7, 8:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEHolmes, Walton40 min
May 7, 8:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEHolmes, Jackson, Washington54 min
May 7, 9:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEJackson30 min
May 7, 9:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEHolmes, Walton, Washington39 min
May 7, 9:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEJackson, Washington41 min
May 7, 10:03 AM CDTTornado WarningTAEHolmes, Walton, Washington27 min
May 7, 10:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBay, Holmes, Walton, Washington53 min
May 7, 10:25 AM CDTTornado WarningTAEBay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington50 min
May 7, 10:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTAEBay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Washington62 min
May 7, 11:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAECalhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty64 min
May 7, 11:39 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTAECalhoun36 min
May 7, 11:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEGadsden, Jefferson, Leon66 min
May 7, 12:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTAECalhoun31 min
May 7, 12:18 PM CDTTornado WarningTAEGadsden, Leon27 min
May 7, 12:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEWalton44 min
May 7, 12:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEJefferson, Madison, Taylor53 min
May 7, 1:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAELafayette, Madison, Taylor27 min
May 7, 1:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTAEMadison53 min
May 7, 3:00 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningTAE60 min
May 7, 3:57 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningTAE48 min
May 7, 4:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTAEBay, Liberty32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

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