NWS adds hail and chance of a tornado to possible Thanksgiving weather threats for Bay County

PANAMA CITY – The Tallahassee-based National Weather Service has updated its forecast for the possible severe weather threat on Thanksgiving in Bay County.

This is accompanied by a freeze that will descend on the area on Monday.

On Tuesday morning, the biggest threat was identified as isolated, damaging wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. On Wednesday, the NWS added hail and a slight chance of a tornado to the mix of potential weather threats for Thanksgiving.

The chance of severe weather is still at a marginal level: 1 in 5 on the NWS threat scale. This means there is a 5% to 14% chance of isolated damaging winds and hail within 25 miles of any point in the forecast area.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center shows a 2% chance of tornadoes in Bay County on Thursday.

The cold front moving through the region is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms. The NWS expects storm clusters to spread across parts of the Florida Panhandle ahead of the front Thursday morning.

If severe weather occurs, it will be in the morning and afternoon hours.

The Thanksgiving weather is forecast to give way to clear skies and cold temperatures on Friday and throughout the weekend.

Thanksgiving Day Weather Forecast, Florida Temperatures

Florida residents will first see above-normal temperatures before Thanksgiving Day, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

This is what you can expect:

• Pensacola: High 76; low 49. Chance of rain and thunderstorms.

• Tallahassee: High 77; low 54. Chance of showers.

• Jacksonville: High 80; low 62. Sunny and breezy.

• Daytona Beach: High 80s; low 63. Mostly sunny.

• Melbourne: High 82; low 63. Sunny.

• Vero Beach: High 82; low 61. Sunny.

• Fort Pierce: High 82; low 61. Sunny.

• Stuart: High 81; low 65. Sunny.

• West Palm Beach: High 80; low 69. Sunny.

• Naples: High 79; low 65. Sunny.

• Fort Myers: High 81; low 63. Sunny.

• Sarasota: High 77; low 68. Sunny.

Frost and freeze warning expected in Florida

The coldest temperatures of the season will arrive late this weekend and early next week, especially in North Florida, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

With light winds, temperatures will feel much cooler than they already are on Sunday morning. Warm temperatures Sunday morning will be in the 20s to 30s (28-32 degrees) across much of the Panhandle and Big Bend, with pleasant temperatures in the mid to 30s along the coast and in the Suwannee Valley. Across the rest of the state, low temperatures will fall into the mid to upper 40s to lower 50s in Central Florida, and between 50 and 60 degrees in South Florida.

The first freeze of the season is likely to develop Sunday night as low temperatures in the I-10 corridor will fall near and below freezing (30 to 34 degrees). A freeze warning will likely be issued for several indoor locations along the I-10 corridor and widespread frost will be possible.

Temperatures early Monday morning will fall into the mid to upper 20s across all of North Florida, low to mid 30s on the Northern Peninsula and the Nature Coast and mid to upper 30s in inland Central Florida toward Lake Okeechobee.

This is what you can expect:

What is a Freeze Warning?

According to the National Weather Service, freeze warnings are issued when temperatures are forecast to remain below 32 degrees for several hours within the next 24 hours.

A hard freeze warning will be issued if temperatures are expected to remain below 28 degrees for at least three hours.

Plants left outside can be killed.

Hard freezes occur about once every ten years in rural areas of inland South Florida, and less frequently along coastal urban areas.

What is a Freeze Watch?

A freeze warning will be issued when there is a chance of significant, widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24 to 36 hours, the National Weather Service said.

The chance of frost will be included in a public forecast when it is expected, according to the National Weather Service.

Plants left outside can be damaged.

Is there a special warning if frost is expected in Florida?

Temperatures between 33 and 36 degrees, with clear skies and light winds over a widespread area are conditions that can cause frost.

Frost could occur even at temperatures in the mid-30s if there is enough moisture and calm winds, the weather service said.

What is perceived temperature?

Wind chill describes the rate of heat loss on the human body when cold temperatures and wind combine.

The perceived temperature can make it seem as if it is much colder outside than the actual temperature.

“As the wind increases, heat is removed from the body more quickly, lowering both skin temperature and ultimately internal body temperature. Exposure to low-level chills can be life-threatening to both humans and animals, the only effect that the perceived temperature has on inanimate objects, such as vehicles, is that it shortens the time it takes for the object to cool to the actual air temperature (it can object should not cool below that temperature).

How do you prepare for cold weather in Florida?

The Florida Division of Emergency Management offered these tips for staying safe during cold weather:

• Protect people: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is important to stay out of the wind and stay dry.

• Protect pets: If cold weather is forecast, be sure to take your pets indoors or give them a warm shelter to stay in.

• Protect plants: Cover cold-sensitive plants to protect them from the dangerous temperatures.

• Protect pipes: Cover the pipes and allow outdoor faucets to drip slowly to prevent them from freezing and breaking.

• Practice fire safety: Use safe indoor heating sources. Do not use fuel-burning appliances such as grills; carbon monoxide is released, a deadly gas. Also be sure to use space heaters according to instructions and be aware of open flames.

This article originally appeared in The News Herald: Severe weather in Bay County could include hail and tornadoes