National Weather Service Mobile confirmed it hit Florida’s Eastern Panhandle on Tuesday, February 11th.
“There’s enough video and pictorial evidence to show it’s a tornado,” NWS Mobile Office meteorologist Brandon Black said in an early morning phone interview Wednesday.
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The damage and return of “We’ll send someone to investigate this morning” goes back to more detail about the strength, route and length of time it was on the ground.
Residents in the area are facing harsher weather than tonight, and “we can’t eliminate the tornado again,” Black said.
➤ Cold front, rain can affect the Daytona 500. See what to expect in Florida
Where was the Pensacola tornado?
National Weather Service received multiple reports of a tornado touching the ground before 4:30pm on Tuesday and damaged the 1 NE Ferry Pass at Ellyson Industrial Park on Copter Road, Pensacola Metro area.
➤ “It was just an extraordinary storm.”
The roof was torn from the building and the power lines were knocked over, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.
Has anyone been injured in a tornado?
Escambia County officials said three people were injured during the storm and two were taken to a local hospital.
Video, photos of Pensacola tornadoes are shared on social media
Pensacola forecast: more severe weather with tornado threats
“Perhaps after midnight, and in the Florida Panhandle, another round of severe weather is possible, probably after midnight,” Black said.
Another cold front has moved from the west to the area late tonight, bringing drier and cooler temperatures after it passes.
➤ Back-to-back winter storm brings lots of rain to the Florida Panhandle this week
“In that round, we expect some damage winds and we can’t eliminate the tornado again.”
Why is Tonight’s Storm different from Tuesday’s Storm?
“Big thunderstorms create bad weather. Yesterday it was from a lightning-free shower. They are usually very small and difficult to see on radar,” Black said.
“Yesterday (Arashi) was a little more unique and made it difficult for predictors to predict.
“Their small sizes don’t last long, making it difficult to warn (people); the typical bad weather from deeper, stronger thunderstorms is more pronounced for us.”
There is a way to receive weather alerts that awaken you
Black said it’s important to “keep the weather” because most severe weather is expected to arrive after midnight.
There is a way to request a mobile phone and receive a weather alert that will wake you up if a warning is sent.
Please provide the information. Get weather alerts via text
What’s next?
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Contributors: Brandon Girod, Edward Bunch III, Pensacola News Journal
