SPC MD 1693

MD 1693 CONCERNING TORNADO WATCH 490... FOR THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

Mesoscale Discussion 1693
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0745 PM CDT Tue Sep 15 2020

Areas affected...The Florida Panhandle

Concerning...Tornado Watch 490...

Valid 160045Z - 160245Z

The severe weather threat for Tornado Watch 490 continues.

SUMMARY...The tornado threat continues for WW 490, and may gradually
increase in the next 1-2 hours for portions of the Emerald Coast in
the Florida Panhandle.

DISCUSSION...Due to the slow northward motion of Hurricane Sally, a
strongly sheared environment remains in place over the FL Panhandle
and portions of coastal AL. Recent surface observations from near
Port St. Joe, FL and Apalachicola, FL have shown a slight increase
in onshore flow with southeasterly winds and dewpoints increasing
slightly into the upper 70s. Coincidentally, convection supportive
of numerous lightning strikes has been recently noted in satellite
imagery just south of Port St. Joe, FL. This suggests that some
degree of destabilization may be underway across this region.
Velocity data from KEVX have also shown weak and transient signs of
low-level rotation associated with weak offshore convection.
Although weak instability will continue to limit the overall tornado
threat in the near term for most of the FL Panhandle, the tornado
threat may increase in the next 1-2 hours for the Fort Walton Beach
to Port St. Joe, FL region as convection moves onshore.

..Moore.. 09/16/2020

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

ATTN...WFO...TAE...MOB...

LAT...LON   29428516 29538543 29878562 30108592 30268647 30278686
            30198761 30558762 30658672 30548579 30348540 29978490
            29658471 29438488 29428516 

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