Tallahassee, Florida – Drivers across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend could face dangerous morning travel Monday as a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms pushes through the region with wind gusts up to 70 mph and a risk for tornadoes during the early commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, the region sits under a Level 3 of 5 enhanced severe weather risk Monday morning. Storms may produce scattered damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph, hail up to 1 inch or larger, and a few tornadoes, with a couple potentially strong.
The first storms are expected to reach southeast Alabama communities such as Dothan between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. CT, potentially impacting early traffic along U.S. 231 and Highway 84. The line then moves east toward the Florida Panhandle, including Marianna, Panama City, and Tallahassee, most likely between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET. Commuters along Interstate 10 could encounter heavy rain and sudden wind gusts capable of knocking down tree limbs.
Storms will continue racing east into southwest Georgia cities including Albany, Thomasville, Tifton, and Valdosta between 9 a.m. and noon, with conditions gradually improving after the line moves through.
Residents should charge phones, secure outdoor objects, and enable multiple ways to receive weather warnings before daybreak Monday. Officials stress that storms will move quickly, leaving little time to react once warnings are issued.
Warnings and additional advisories may be issued as the storm line approaches Monday morning.
