Florida braces for powerful storm, severe weather warning issued

A powerful storm is expected to form Friday evening in the Gulf of Mexico and head toward Florida on Saturday and up the east coast over the weekend.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a “Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms” warning over parts of Florida from Saturday into Sunday morning, warning that frequent lightning, severe wind gusts, tornadoes and even hail are possible.

NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) warned that heavy rain may cause flash flooding in urban areas and areas with roads and small streams.

The warm, wet storm could affect holiday travel plans but is not expected to be massively disruptive. WPC predicts that the three-day risk is “marginal.”

The impacts are projected to be similar to a tropical storm or subtropical storm, Weather Authority Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt told WINK News.

The storm is expected to join forces with a system that developed in the West and travel up the east coast throughout the weekend.  

Rain is expected to stretch into the Plains and travel up the east coast throughout the next 48 hours, WPC predicts.

WPC said the areas with the highest probability for severe storms as it moves north is eastern North Carolina and the state’s Outer Banks.

The Weather Center said much of the Northeast will see strong winds and rain Monday that could turn into snow near the Great Lakes and Appalachians.