Scattered thunderstorms occurred ahead of a frontal boundary on May 23-25. However, on May 25, a mesoscale convective system developed west of the area and enhanced the low level wind field.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms occurred ahead of a frontal boundary on May 23-25. However, on May 25, a mesoscale convective system developed west of the area and enhanced the low level wind field. This resulted in two tornadoes across the tri-state area. One tornado affected the Villa Tasso area in Walton county in Florida, and the other tornado affected Houston and Henry counties in Alabama. Both tornadoes were rated EF1.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 23, 6:40 AM EST, 22 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 740 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 732 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 - A HIGH RISK of rip currents at area beaches into the Memorial Day weekend. Beachgoers are urged to consult lifeguards on surf conditions and discouraged to enter the surf if red or double red flags are flying. - Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected each day through the next week. Gusty winds of 40-60 mph, torrential downpours, and frequent lightning will be the primary threats from storms. Some localized flash flooding is also possible each day under slow-moving thunderstorms. && .SHORT TERM... (Today and Tonight) Issued at 213 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 The active pattern rolls along today as a subtle shortwave moves across the area embedded within deep moist south-southwesterly flow. Numerous showers and storms are expected again today, especially across inland areas this afternoon and evening. The dominant southerly flow should keep most of the rain away from the coast, with only isolated to scattered storms possible there. Given the presence of the shortwave, we'll have a bit more shear to work with today, which will increase late in the afternoon to around 25-35 kt, mainly across south Georgia. This will yield a better-than-average chance of strong to possibly severe storms this afternoon. SPC has outlined most of our Georgia counties in a Marginal Risk of severe weather (level 1 of 5) for this afternoon. The main threats would be damaging downburst winds of 40-60 mph and some hail. PWATs today will be in the 1.8 to 2 inch range, meaning today's storms will be efficient rain producers. If any storms train and/or produce high rainfall amounts, localized flash flooding will be possible, especially in urban, low-lying, or poor drainage areas. Localized reasonable high-end totals of 2-4 inches are possible. While most showers and storms will slowly fade after sunset this evening, we'll still have a few scattered showers or storms possible through the overnight hours. Given the abundant shower and storm activity today, highs will be held back into the mid to upper 80s for most, though near 90 along the coastal and southeast Big Bend. This is where the highest heat index values are also expected today, climbing to near 100. Lows tonight will be in the 70s for most. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Friday) Issued at 213 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 Another shortwave will move into the Mid South and lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday amidst deep moisture. This will yield yet another high rain chance day across the area. Shear doesn't appear to be as strong on Sunday, and DCAPE isn't as high given the very moist air mass. However, gusty winds will still be possible via waterloading, and torrential downpours continue to be possible given PWATs still near 1.7 to 1.9 inches. A mid-level low becomes cut off over the Arklatex Monday, then gets absorbed into the larger troughing over the western US by Tuesday as the larger troughing pattern begins to shift eastward through next week. Meanwhile, the deep south to southwest flow continues to pump in tropical moisture into our area as PWATs remain around 1.8 to 2 inches each day through the end of next week. Thus, the pattern of high rain chances each day marches on. Each day, thunderstorms will be capable of gusty winds and torrential downpours. Localized flash flooding of urban, low-lying, and poor drainage areas will remain possible. Highs will primarily be in the 80s (though near 90 in the coastal and southeast parts of the Big Bend). Heat index values along coastal areas will still be near 100. Lows will remain in the 70s. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 732 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 TAFs remain messy through the period with widespread showers and storms, especially in the afternoon hours. As a result, conditions will bounce around from MVFR to VFR outside of storms, with temporary instances of LIFR to IFR in heavier convection through the day. While most convection will affect DHN, ABY, and VLD today, ECP/TLH will see a chance at scattered showers/storms through the morning and early afternoon hours. All terminals have PROB30 groups for thunder in place for various time stamps. && .MARINE... Issued at 213 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 Gentle to moderate southeasterly winds will continue for the next several days with seas around 1-3 feet. Daily chances for showers and storms continue, especially during the overnight and early morning hours. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 213 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 Generally southerly transport winds around 10 mph are expected each day through the holiday weekend. This will yield good dispersions. High chances for showers and thunderstorms continue each afternoon and evening, especially for areas away from the coast. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing gusty, erratic winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rain. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 213 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026 Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected each day over the next several days. Widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are likely across the area through the next 7 days, though these totals can occur in a few hours from some of these storms. Localized high- end totals for the week could exceed 6 inches. Given the abundant moisture in place, storms could be efficient rain producers with high rainfall rates. This could result in localized flash flooding should storms train or move slowly. Right now, given how low our rivers have been from the prolonged drought, river flooding is not a concern. Current ensemble guidance indicates that most of our rivers would need at least 8 to 12 inches of rain to even reach minor flood. The recent and forecast rainfall is extremely beneficial for our drought situation. Severe to exceptional drought continues across the area, but the rainfall should help ease impacts. For the latest on drought impacts, please visit www.weather.gov/tae/DroughtInformationStatement. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Tallahassee 87 73 88 73 / 50 30 50 20 Panama City 85 73 87 74 / 50 10 40 20 Dothan 83 69 86 69 / 80 30 70 40 Albany 85 68 87 69 / 90 60 60 50 Valdosta 88 69 88 70 / 90 40 90 50 Cross City 92 72 92 72 / 40 30 70 40 Apalachicola 84 76 85 76 / 30 20 30 20 && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...High Rip Current Risk through this evening for FLZ114-115. GA...None. AL...None. GM...None. && SHORT TERM...Young LONG TERM....Young AVIATION...Dobbs/IG3 MARINE...Young FIRE WEATHER...Young HYDROLOGY...Young
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
525 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026
FLZ014-015-112-114-115-231015-
Coastal Bay FL-Inland Franklin FL-Inland Gulf FL-Coastal Franklin FL-
Coastal Gulf FL-
525 AM EDT Sat May 23 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT GULF...SOUTHEASTERN BAY AND
WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 615 AM EDT/515 AM CDT/...
At 524 AM EDT/424 AM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from near Tyndall Air Force Base
to 8 miles west of Port St. Joe to 28 miles south of Mexico Beach.
Movement was east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Mexico Beach, Tyndall Air Force Base,
White City, Wewahitchka, Honeyville, Allanton, Chipola Cutoff, Eleven
Mile, Odena, Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Overstreet, Davis Beach, Bay
City, Willis Landing, Apalachicola Airport, Wetappo, and Simmons
Bayou.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2973 8548 2988 8549 2993 8556 3001 8560
3012 8543 3010 8539 3013 8539 3013 8514
3012 8513 3012 8514 3011 8515 3010 8514
3009 8515 3008 8514 3004 8514 2999 8504
2982 8498 2963 8503 2959 8537
TIME...MOT...LOC 0924Z 262DEG 22KT 2996 8552 2977 8543 2953 8548
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
21-WDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 lightning, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Franklin County dispatch and the local fire dept reported fried wiring, phone lines down, and compromised security gate at a home from a likely lightning strike at the St George Island Plantation around Hawthorne.
Franklin County dispatch and the local fire dept confirmed a palmetto that caught fire at the Gramercy Plantation from a likely lightning strike.
A couple of trees were blown down.
A tornado moved ashore from the Choctawhatchee Bay into the small village of Villa Tasso. The tornado snapped and uprooted many hardwood trees, primarily on Yacht Club Drive, Robert Avenue, Magnolia Street and Virginia Court. Structural damage was largely due to fallen trees. However, one home on Hal Street suffered damage to about 40% of its roof. The tornado caused two trees to fall on a car at the intersection of Defuniak Street and CR 20 before lifting. Damage along most of the path was consistent with EF-1 damage with maximum winds estimated at 105 mph.
Trees were down near New Hope and Highway 179A.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2026Warnings in Florida, May 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1338449, 1338450, 1338451, 1338452, 1338448.