Marginal Severe Weather Threat for Central/Northern Florida! (credit: NWS Jacksonville, Florida)

DISCUSSION: As discussed in more detail within the previous post on this upcoming winter storm, this is a multi-faceted winter storm with many different aspects.  Although the primary focus has been and will likely continue to be the more wintry aspects of this strengthening low pressure system, there will also be a marginal severe weather threat in place across portions of northern-to-central Florida.  This lower-end severe weather threat will primarily be the result of strong warm air advection occurring alongside and just to the east of the associated cold front which will be pushing through the region during the day tomorrow.  Thus, the primary threat from any deeper convection which develops during the day tomorrow out ahead of and/or right alongside the incoming cold front will be an increased threat for heavy rainfall, strong straight-line winds, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.  

Attached below is some exact content issued by forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Jacksonville, Florida: "Heavy downpours and embedded strong thunderstorms are possible this evening in the Suwannee Valley of northeast Florida and through the overnight hours across the rest of northeast Florida. The Storm Prediction Center has indicated a marginal risk for severe thunderstorm development along the I-75 corridor tonight. Stronger activity will be capable of producing small hail, wind gusts up to 50 mph, and frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes. Activity is moving quickly northeastward at nearly 40 mph. Rainfall amounts near 1 inch are expected, with locally heavier amounts possible through the morning hours on Saturday."  Stay tuned for updates here at the Global Weather and Climate Center for the latest on this impending winter storm!

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​©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz