OUTLOOK UPGRADE: LEVEL 3 RISK; A STRONG TORNADO OR TWO POSSIBLE… The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded several communities in northwest Florida and the Florida Panhandle region into their Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk zone valid for this afternoon into this evening. SPC notes that a few strong tornadoes may become possible in addition to a heightened threat of damaging wind gusts. Most communities across south Alabama and northwest Florida will continue to have a cold rain with occasional thunder. A few more Monday midday forecast notes are below.

LEVEL 3 (OUT OF 5) RISK ZONE ADDED… Parts of Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties in northwest Florida are now included in the fairly uncommon Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk due to the enhanced tornado and damaging wind potential. This includes Navarre, Destin, Eglin AFB, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, and Niceville. Communities farther east in the Florida Panhandle are also included: Tallahassee, Panama City, Marianna, Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside, Alys Beach, Bonifay, Ponce De Leon, Chipley, Blountstown, Port St. Joe, Wewahitchka, Graceville, Ebro, Mexico Beach, Tyndall AFB, Panama City Beach, Apalachicola, Quincy, and surrounding areas. We note that Dothan, Geneva, Slocomb are included in this Level 3 risk zone in southeast Alabama.

STRONG STORMS DEVELOPING SOUTH OF THE ALABAMA COAST… The greatest concern over the next 1-2 hours will be the strong to severe thunderstorms that have developed near and just south of the Alabama Gulf Coast. These storms are producing prolific lightning and brief, transient areas of rotation. These storms could become problematic as they approach Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze, and the Pensacola metro area over the next 1-2 hours. Please be ready for possible warnings!

SO FAR, RAIN ACROSS THE AREA… Freezing rain has been limited to areas to our west and northwest today and precipitation continues to fall in the form of rain. There could be some freezing rain over the next several hours across parts of west Alabama, particularly in parts of Clarke, Washington, Marengo, and Choctaw counties. Black ice will become a concern across the area later this evening into the overnight hours, extending into Tuesday morning.

TORNADO WARNING POLICY… Any time there is an active tornado warning in effect for southwest Alabama or northwest Florida, we provide uninterrupted, live video coverage on Facebook Live and in the RedZone Weather app. Our detailed coverage commitment is outlined at redzoneweather.com/coverage. We are proud to cover all parts of Escambia (AL), Covington, Monroe, Conecuh, Baldwin, Mobile, Clarke, Washington, Butler, Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties. If you live in any locale in those counties, be sure to tune into our coverage whenever there is an active tornado warning!

APP ALERTS… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.

I will have updates over the next few hours in the RedZone Weather app. Have a good Monday afternoon!

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