Damaging Winds in Florida, February 6, 2020

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1242 PM EST Thu Feb 6 2020

.AVIATION...
[Through 18Z Friday]
Line of strong to severe storms will impact area terminals from
west to east through the afternoon and early evening. Outside of
the storms, very strong southerly winds will continue.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [1137 AM EST]...

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...
Line of strong storms is beginning to organize over SE Alabama and
the Florida Panhandle. Deep layer forcing will only increase
through the afternoon as a potent shortwave rounds the base of the
deep upper trough. As the shortwave begins to eject this afternoon
and evening, deep layer shear will increase across the Florida Big
Bend into southern Georgia. Combined with MLCAPE of 1500-2000j/kg,
this should lead to an intensification of the squall line as it
accelerates eastward. SPC has the entire area under an enhanced
risk of severe storms, with an area 45% wind probs. This is the
area of greatest concern for isolated wind gusts greater than 60
knots.

.SHORT TERM [Friday through Saturday]...

The squall line and associated severe weather threat will be gone
from our CWA to begin the short term. Mostly dry conditions follow
as a much cooler and more stable airmass moves in from the
northwest in the wake of the freshly passed cold front. High
pressure also builds at the surface over the southeast, resulting
in mostly clear skies. Despite plentiful sunshine, high
temperatures will struggle to reach 60 on Fri. The combination of
subsidence aloft, excellent radiational cooling conditions, and
cold-air advection is expected to bring down temperatures to the
mid 30s (except for the immediate coast) on Sat in the overnight
and early-morning hours. High temperatures are forecast to be a
few degrees warmer on Sat.

.LONG TERM [Saturday Night Through Thursday]...

Surface high pressure gradually slides eastward this weekend,
causing winds to veer from east to the south. This shift will
cause moisture to increase for our area thus allowing
temperatures to moderate and begin a warming trend. High
temperatures will be mostly in the 70s with each successive day
being warmer, with low temperatures generally in the low 60s.

Zonal flow aloft is expected to become more southwesterly to begin
the work week as a cutoff low tracks east from near the US/Mexico
border. This pattern will bring rain chances back to our area Mon
afternoon (30-40% PoPs for the AL and western FL Panhandle
counties) as a frontal boundary develops at the surface. Models
are suggesting that the front may temporarily stall, so kept PoPs
relatively unchanged through Tues. By Wed, a shortwave trough
moves east through the OH Valley and mid-Atlantic states and lifts
the boundary, thus causing showers to taper off slightly.

Meanwhile, a longwave trough is expected to dive down the western
US and help eject the energy of the aforementioned cutoff low to
trigger surface cyclogenesis over the midwest. This new system
will track northeast and drag a formidable cold front to its
south. As a result, rain chances increase from northwest (up to
nearly 60%) to southeast on Thurs, with a slight chance of thunder
for our western CWA.

.MARINE...

Terrible boating conditions are expected today through Friday as a
powerful system affects the area. Frequent gale force gusts are
expected ahead of the front today and behind the front tonight into
Friday. The potential for severe thunderstorms also exists ahead of
the front today. Conditions will improve on Saturday. Moderate
easterly winds are expected to develop on Sunday and veer to onshore
for Monday.

.FIRE WEATHER...

A squall line capable of producing severe storms will move through
the forecast area on Thurs. Heavy rainfall and damaging winds are
expected with this system. Dry conditions follow the exit of the
squall line early Fri with high dispersions beginning in the
immediate coast around daybreak and then becoming widespread
through most of the afternoon. Despite the dryness, minimum RH
values will not meet red flag criteria. There are no fire weather
concerns.

.HYDROLOGY...

An additional 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected across the area
today. This results in storm totals of 4 to 6 inches in the
western half of the region and 2 to 4 inches of rain elsewhere.
These rainfall amounts will result in the potential for flash
flooding during the time of heaviest rainfall, particularly across
Southeastern Alabama, Southwestern Georgia, and the Florida
Panhandle. A flash flood watch remains in effect for these areas.

Additionally, river flooding is expected to follow, with at least
minor flooding in the Choctawhatchee, Chipola, Apalachicola basins
as well as the Kinchafoonee Creek expected by the end of the
weekend. Some of these basins may also approach moderate flood
levels, depending on the placement of the heaviest rain. Elsewhere,
rivers should rise into action stage, outside of the Suwannee Basin.

For coastal flood interests, high tide today in Apalachee Bay is
around 130 pm ET, with an additional high tide late tonight. Should
the system be a little slower than predicted, the period of highest
surge could overlay this last high tide and result in moderate
coastal flooding. This is possible, mainly from the Steinhatchee
River southward. That being said, the latest guidance, both PETSS
and deterministic ESTOFS/ETSS data suggest that the maximum water
levels in Apalachee Bay will be between 2 and 3 feet MHHW, which is
on the higher side of our coastal flood advisory criteria, and a
coastal flood advisory is in effect.

.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   42  57  36  65  42 /  80   0   0  10   0
Panama City   44  57  45  65  48 /  50   0   0  10   0
Dothan        40  53  37  64  42 /  50   0   0  10   0
Albany        42  53  36  63  40 /  60   0   0  10  10
Valdosta      45  56  36  64  41 /  80   0   0  10   0
Cross City    48  60  37  66  42 /  90   0   0   0   0
Apalachicola  46  55  43  63  48 /  70   0   0  10   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Friday for Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Dixie-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-Coastal
     Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal Wakulla-South Walton.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 3 AM EST Friday for Coastal Dixie-
     Coastal Franklin-Coastal Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal
     Wakulla.

     Wind Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for Gadsden-Inland
     Franklin-Inland Jefferson-Inland Wakulla-Leon-Liberty-
     Madison.

     Flash Flood Watch until 9 PM EST /8 PM CST/ this evening for
     Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Holmes-Inland Bay-
     Jackson-North Walton-South Walton-Washington.

     Wind Advisory until 3 PM EST /2 PM CST/ this afternoon for
     Calhoun-Central Walton-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Gulf-
     Jackson-North Walton-Washington.

     High Rip Current Risk through Friday evening for Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

     High Surf Advisory until 3 PM EST /2 PM CST/ Friday for Coastal
     Bay-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

     Wind Advisory until 9 PM EST this evening for Inland Dixie-
     Inland Taylor-Lafayette.

GA...Wind Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for Baker-Ben Hill-
     Berrien-Brooks-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-Grady-Irwin-
     Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-Mitchell-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-Turner-
     Worth.

     Flash Flood Watch until 9 PM EST this evening for Baker-Calhoun-
     Clay-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Lee-Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-
     Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Turner-Worth.

     Wind Advisory until 3 PM EST this afternoon for Calhoun-Clay-
     Early-Miller-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole.

AL...Flash Flood Watch until 8 PM CST this evening for Coffee-Dale-
     Geneva-Henry-Houston.

     Wind Advisory until 2 PM CST this afternoon for Coffee-Dale-
     Geneva-Henry-Houston.

GM...Gale Warning until 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ Friday for Apalachee Bay
     or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River FL
     out to 20 Nm-Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to
     Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal waters from Suwannee
     River to Keaton Beach FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from
     Mexico Beach to Apalachicola FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters
     from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20
     NM-Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to
     60 NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20
     to 60 NM-Waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County
     Line FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...Camp
SHORT TERM...IG
LONG TERM...IG
AVIATION...Camp
MARINE...DVD
FIRE WEATHER...IG
HYDROLOGY...DVD

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1003 AM CST Thu Feb 6 2020

FLZ007>009-108-061700-
Central Walton FL-Holmes FL-South Walton FL-North Walton FL-
1003 AM CST Thu Feb 6 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WALTON AND HOLMES COUNTIES
IN THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA UNTIL 1100 AM CST...

At 1002 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southeast of Destin, moving northeast at 65 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Santa Rosa Beach, De Funiak Springs, Eglin Air Force Base, Union,
Liberty, Freeport, Paxton, Ponce De Leon, Caryville, Esto, Westville,
Noma, Oakwood Hills, Cluster Springs, Villa Tasso, Cerrogordo, Blue
Mountain Beach, Gritney, Seaside and Rock Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until noon CST for the Panhandle of
Florida.

LAT...LON 3038 8633 3042 8631 3039 8626 3040 8623
      3042 8627 3039 8611 3044 8616 3047 8613
      3046 8619 3050 8620 3046 8639 3099 8639
      3099 8559 3077 8574 3078 8583 3063 8592
      3056 8588 3023 8609 3031 8639 3040 8639
TIME...MOT...LOC 1602Z 215DEG 56KT 3026 8641

38-GODSEY