Expect worst weather in Osceola 5:30-7 p.m. depending on location
All of Central Florida, including Osceola County, is under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m. Tuesday evening as a strong line of thunderstorms connected with a potent cold front is charging toward our area and will arrive late in the afternoon.
A Wind Advisory is also in effect for the area through 7 p.m. Tuesday, as southerly winds from 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected ahead of, and possibly during, the heavy downpours the severe storms accompanying the front will bring later in the day. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result, the National Weather Service said.
"Out of an abundance of caution in the face of expected severe weather conditions this afternoon, government offices in the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, and Osceola County are closing at 3 p.m.," a joint release said at 1:30. Schools have already canceled their after-school and athletic events Tuesday.
As a reminder, residents can sign up for localized text messaging alerts regarding severe weather and other emergencies by texting “AlertOsceola” to 888777 or visiting www.AlertOsceola.com.
Radar estimates show the line of strong storms likely reaching the western parts of Osceola County, like Four Corners and Celebration, around 5:30, Kissimmee and Poinciana around 5:45, St. Cloud just after 6 p.m., Harmony just before 6:30 and Holopaw around 6:45.
"The main storm threats associated with this band of storms will be the risk of severe damaging wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph, a few tornadoes, frequent lightning strikes, and small hail," the National Weather Service in Melbourne noted in a Hazardous Weather Outlook issued Tuesday morning. "Heavy rain will also be possible within the band of storms, but it will be moving quickly, so rain accumulations of only 1 to 2 inches are forecast. Residents and visitors are strongly advised to prepare ahead of this line of storms and stay weather aware this afternoon into the late evening hours."
How serious should we take this? Longtime WFTV Channel 9 meteorologist Tom Terry said during a Sunday newscast, "I'll probably have the jacket off," a nod to his removing it on air during particularly locally-heavy weather events. (But he didn't mention rolling up his sleeves, or removing his tie, the next levels of bad weather.)
After the front passes, sunny weather is in store for Wednesday and Thursday, with highs around 65 and lows around 50, before another storm system — a less severe one — brings another chance for storms on Friday.
