National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warned that some Floridians could encounter a funnel cloud on Wednesday as strong thunderstorms moved through the Melbourne area.
Florida has encountered a variety of severe weather this week. Excessive heat akin to midsummer temperatures was hitting South Florida, and thunderstorms ravaged the northern part of the state on Tuesday, causing hail and other storm-related problems. The storms continued on Wednesday, with much of central Florida under a severe thunderstorm watch or warning on Wednesday afternoon.
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The hazardous weather prompted the NWS to warn that funnel clouds could form in the area around Melbourne.
"Conditions are favorable for the development of weak, brief funnel
clouds," an NWS special weather statement said. "On rare occasions they can briefly touch down, producing wind gusts over 50 mph. If a funnel cloud is spotted move indoors and report your sighting to the National Weather Service."
Newsweek reached out to the NWS office in Melbourne by phone for comment.
In addition to the funnel cloud potential, "torrential" rain was hitting the Jacksonville area, prompting NWS meteorologists to urge people to seek shelter if they are caught outside in the storm.
"Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways," a special weather statement for the Jacksonville area said. "Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle."
Wind gusts reached up to 50 miles per hour in some parts of the state.
"Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects," the special weather statement said.
In addition to the severe storms, excessive heat continued to plague South Florida on Wednesday.
In addition to the storm, most of the state was under a "minor" risk for heat-related effects, according to the NWS HeatRisk index, which provides a forecast of heat-related impacts over the next 24 hours. Further south in the state, a larger number of Floridians are under "extreme," "major" and "moderate" risk for heat-related effects.
The extreme heat posed the most severe impacts.
"This level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in most health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure," NWS HeatRisk said.
The extreme heat is expected to persist throughout the week and begin to fade by next week.
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About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
