Wind Damage & Hail Risk Approaching Panhandle

- Tornado Watch until 6 pm for Pensacola metro

- Wind damage and large hail the primary threats

- Risk spreads east this evening, diminishes overnight

A strong storm system had already produced at least two tornadoes near New Orleans, Louisiana early Tuesday. As of 3 pm, it was bearing down on the Pensacola metro.

Severe t-Storms crossing border into Florida now near #Pensacola. Main threats wind damage & hail. Tornado Watch continues until 6 pm. #flwx pic.twitter.com/0eRb8nZDJa

— Florida Storms (@FloridaStorms) February 7, 2017

Wind gusts up to 70 mph, hail to the size of golf balls, and an isolated tornado are the primary threats with the storms through early evening.  Wind damage and small hail is also a threat further east later in the night.

In addition to the elevated risk of wind damage and hail, the large complex of storms is expected to dump heavy rain and produce frequent lightning across nearly the entire Florida Panhandle Tuesday evening, and then move through the northern third of the peninsula overnight.

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