Rain, colder weather on the way

A strong cold front is expected to bring stiff winds, some rain and a slight risk of an isolated severe thunderstorm or tornado to the Wiregrass late Tuesday, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla.

Paul Duval of the NWS said the most significant risk to the Wiregrass should come from straightline winds and/or hail. However, Duval said he could not rule out more severe weather.

“Right now, the risk is slight because we don’t have a lot of instability in the atmosphere,” Duval said during a Webinar with local Emergency Management Agency officials.

Duval said the system should move into the area during the day Tuesday and produce some rain, but he expects the heaviest rainfall to stay to the west and north. Current rain estimates for the Wiregrass range from 1/2 inch to 1 inch.

“We expect the system to move fairly quickly to the east. It’s not going to linger long,” Duval said.

Duval said the greatest chance for severe weather in the Wiregrass will come after dark and before midnight Tuesday.

Once the system moves through, temperatures will get significantly colder, with lows in the low 30s by Thursday. Then, another cold front is expected in the area by Sunday.