A second tornado warning was issued for northeastern Leon County.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Havana at 3:52 p.m. It was moving east at 25 mph. The warning was in effect until 4:15 p.m but expired.
A second warning went up at 5:29 p.m. when a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 8 miles northeast of Tallahassee, moving east at 25 mph. It expired at 6 p.m.
Forecasters say to move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
“We didn’t see signs that a tornado was on the ground,” said Wright Dobbs, meteorologist with the National Weather Service after the first tornado warning. “However, we saw signs that the storm could produce a tornado at a moment’s notice.”
Dobbs added there were no immediate reports of damage in Leon County.
The Leon County School District tweeted: ‘The district is working with Deerlake Middle School as a tornado warning impacts dismissal. Students are in interior rooms and buses are not traveling in the direction of the warning area. We ask for patience from parents during this time.” When the first warning elapsed, the district said kids were being safely transported home.
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Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for portions of Gadsden, Jefferson and Leon counties are also under a severe thunderstorm warning until 4:45 p.m.
At 4:06 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located 10 miles south of Cairo, Georgia, moving east at 30 mph. The storm packed 60 mph win gusts and half-dollar-size hail.
Another severe thunderstorm warning was issued for north-central Jefferson County and northeastern Leon County until 6 p.m. A severe storm located 11 miles south of Thomasville was producing 60 mph and quarter-size hail. A third warning for the same area was issued till 6:30 p.m.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.
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