• Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.
New posts

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2008
2,643
521
Eastern Lake Est., SoWal, FL
Tornado Warning for Panama City Beach 9 a.m. Thursday, April 2, just to the east of SoWal. Justin and Wayne are doing a good weather reporting job on WMBB CH 13, Panama City, FL. Lots of flooding news, too, in the area. Be extra careful today as you are driving around Northwest Florida.
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
I always get confused between with Warning and Watch. Folks, this is a Tornado Warning, meaning a tornado has been seen. It is expected to hit land around 9:25am in Bay County.

Today is not the day to take a long bicycle ride. Stay close to shelter today, and keep your ears and eyes peeled. If you hear a freight train, seek shelter immediately, or run and jump into a ditch, because we don't have any trains -- that would be the sound of a tornado!
 

Will B

Moderator
Jan 5, 2006
4,561
1,317
Atlanta, GA
Actually, with today's technologies that are in place warning will be issued based on radar returns. If doppler shows any kind of rotation, it automatically causes a warning to be issued by NOAA's National Weather Service. Human eyes don't have to be in play. I'm guessing, though, that your saying "a tornado has been seen" encompasses that.

The upside is that there is more time given to the warnees. The flip side is that there are a lot more warnings. I hope people don't start taking it as crying wolf.
I have a friend who grew up in Tulsa. He said that sirens used to go off so much that most didn't heed them. He has a great picture of himself as a kid playing in the street with a tornado going by in the background. Crazy!
 

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2008
2,643
521
Eastern Lake Est., SoWal, FL
Actually, with today's technologies that are in place warning will be issued based on radar returns. If doppler shows any kind of rotation, it automatically causes a warning to be issued by NOAA's National Weather Service. Human eyes don't have to be in play. I'm guessing, though, that your saying "a tornado has been seen" encompasses that.

The upside is that there is more time given to the warnees. The flip side is that there are a lot more warnings. I hope people don't start taking it as crying wolf.
I have a friend who grew up in Tulsa. He said that sirens used to go off so much that most didn't heed them. He has a great picture of himself as a kid playing in the street with a tornado going by in the background. Crazy!


That is all true, and thanks for the extra notes, SC. When there is a tornado warning in the next county over (less than 15 miles from my beach house); and it is raining so hard I can't see the lake; and the trees are blowing sideways due to 35 - 50+ mph winds; I tend to take a little extra notice. Wave action in gulf is another little sign I look to.
 

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic
Mar 1, 2008
2,643
521
Eastern Lake Est., SoWal, FL
Waves are still roaring, but the rain has finally let up. Lou, the heron, was poking around the outfall, and O the Osprey was hovering overhead. About 15 pelicans also were cruising along the beach, headed back east. Maybe we'll catch a break and have our weather settle down for a while.
 

Lady D

SoWal Insider
Jun 21, 2005
6,131
195
66
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
The website for WHJG Channel 7 in PC Beach is showing a tornado watch until 2:00 p.m. for the area. That is the station we always watch when at the beach. I saw where several areas were flooded though.
 
Last edited:

Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,039
1,984
It is raining so hard - I can barely see across the street.:eek:
 
New posts


Sign Up for SoWal Newsletter