Florida faces tornadoes, hail, strong winds as intense storms move through some locations

March 2025 will exit with the potential for tornadoes, hail, damaging winds and severe storms.

The storm that brought severe weather across a large portion of the U.S. Sunday is moving east Monday, March 31. Intense storms from Jacksonville to Richmond, Virginia, are possible as storms move toward the coast, according to AccuWeather.

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While the worst storms may impact the Panhandle and North Florida, most of the state could expect anything from rain to gusty winds.

Here’s what you can expect.

Weather watches and warnings issued across the U.S.

National weather radar

A squall line of thunderstorms is expected to continue to plow eastward into Monday morning, according to AccuWeather.

Storms could bring isolated tornadoes, hail and flooding rain. Wind gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph.

“Cities like Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, down to Jacksonville, Florida, are forecast to face intense storms on Monday as the main frontal boundary advances to the coast.”

Weather alerts issued in Florida

What’s in the forecast for Florida today?

Pensacola, Panhandle: A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for parts of Florida, including Pensacola, until 1 p.m. CDT Monday, March 31. A couple of tornadoes are possible, along with isolated hail up to ping-pong ball size. Scattered gusts up to 70 mph are likely, according to the National Weather Service Mobile.
Tallahassee: A couple of tornadoes are possible today, along with damaging wind gusts and isolated large hail. Timing is late morning through evening, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.
Jacksonville, North Florida: There’s a potential for strong to severe storms March 31. Threats include isolated tornadoes, thunderstorm wind gusts ranging from 40 to 70 mph, hail and locally heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville. Timing is for the afternoon and evening.
East central Florida: Expect partly sunny and warm conditions during most of the day. Conditions are favorable for storms to develop between 3 and 9 p.m. Storms could bring gusty winds near 50 mph, small hail and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne.
South Florida: After “significant rainfall” Sunday, residents can expect drier conditions March 31 but there will be some isolated to scattered showers/storms later in the afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service Miami.
Southwest Florida: Isolated late afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected today across the northern Nature Coast. A couple of storms may be strong with damaging winds, locally heavy rain and small hail, according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay.

What’s the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning?

The National Weather Service explained the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning:

Tornado watch: Be prepared. Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, take inventory of your supplies and check your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.
Tornado warning: Take action. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

Current drought conditions in Florida

Despite some weekend rain, especially in hardhit South Florida, drought conditions continue to worsen in Florida. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average was 355 Sunday, March 30, up from 339 March 27. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry.

As of Monday morning, the Florida Forest Service listed 55 wildfires around the state.

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Areas of fog before 10 a.m. High near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.

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Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

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Monday: A slight chance of thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Monday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Monday: A 10 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.

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Monday: A 10 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South southeast wind around 5 mph.

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Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

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Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 7 to 14 mph.
Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 8 to 14 mph.

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Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 6 to 8 mph.

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Monday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Monday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 70. Light and variable wind.

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Monday: Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

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Monday: Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 6 to 11 mph.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South southwest wind around 6 mph.

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Monday: A 10 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: A 10 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida weather radar, forecast: Tornadoes, hail, strong winds