Florida severe weather threat: Timeline, forecast, live weather maps

Florida Severe Weather Outlook: 11:30PM

FOX 35 Orlando is tracking the potential for severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and an isolated tornado, on Sunday, following days of severe weather in the central and southern parts of the United States. FOX 35's Laurel Blanchard explains the latest severe weather outlook, forecast, storm timeline, and main weather impacts.

ORLANDO, Fla. - There is the potential for severe weather across the southeastern parts of the United States over the next several days, including Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. On Sunday, that severe weather threat will extend into both north and Central Florida.

FOX 35 has declared Sunday, March 16, a Storm Alert Day due to the potential for strong or severe thunderstorms, torrential rain and gusty winds.

Here's what to know about the Sunday forecast, severe weather threat and timeline.

Florida severe weather threat: Latest updates, timeline

FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist T.J. Springer goes live on Facebook for a Saturday morning breakfast chat on today's forecast. In addition, Springer shares the latest updates and timeline for the severe weather expected to hit Central Florida on Sunday.

What will Sunday's forecast look like?

What To Expect:

Hotter conditions are expected in Central Florida ahead of the cold front moving in.

The heat and mugginess will allow the storm energy to build on Sunday afternoon.

The unstable air, as well as the dynamics in the atmosphere, will make for a severe weather threat from Sunday afternoon into the evening.

This is why the FOX 35 Storm Team has made it a FOX 35 Storm Alert Day.

A tornado or two, as well as gusty wind and large hail, are possible with the storms that ignite.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop early in the day on Sunday and continue to work to the southeast through the afternoon.

Storms arrive in our FOX 51 locales by early afternoon and into the Orlando Metro by late afternoon.

The cold front pushes east of Central Florida by the overnight, with much cooler conditions on tap to start next week.

Timeline: Here's when the severe weather arrives in Central Florida

Timeline:

The timeline for the severe weather threat will be late Sunday afternoon and evening, potentially lingering into the early parts of Monday morning.

Gainesville: Early afternoon
Orlando: Late afternoon
Kissimmee: Evening

Currently, the storms are expected to not impact the Monday morning rush hour. However, the forecast will firm this up in the next few day or two.

What are the main weather threats?

Why you should care:

In Central Florida, the main weather threats from strong or severe storms would be damaging winds, the risk of a few tornadoes, flash flooding and hail.

Tornado threat: How likely?

FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner said as the system moves into Central Florida, the tornado threat will move with it.

The graphics below show a general timeline of when the biggest tornado threat will reach each region in the state.

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"Winds will veer with altitude, from southerly at the ground level to westerly at jet stream level, producing a rotation in the column of air from ground to 30,000 feet," Garner said. "This means any thunderstorms entering the region of orange could spin. This means a few tornadoes are possible."

Garner noted that these would likely not be the large tornadoes often seen in the middle of the country.

However, any tornado can be damaging and threaten life, property and homes.

Tornado watch vs. tornado warning: What is the difference?

Dig deeper:

Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that typically extend from a thunderstorm to the ground.

They can form anywhere, anytime and can reach wind speeds of up to 200 mph, enough to damage houses and buildings, flip cars and turn everyday debris into deadly missiles.

Florida tornadoes, severe weather: How to prepare, what to do

FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Laurel Blanchard talks about tornadoes, which are one of the main weather impacts heading towards Central Florida on Sunday. The National Weather Service (NWS) says tornadoes are spawned from powerful thunderstorms, and they can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. Tornadoes develop extremely rapidly, and may dissipate just as quickly. The NWS says that most tornadoes are on the ground for less than 15 minutes.

Tornado watch: A tornado watch is issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are POSSIBLE in and near the watch area. This does not mean that a tornado will occur. It just means it's possible, per the National Weather Service.

Tornado warning: A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is IMMINENT. If a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately.

Tornado tracker: How common are tornadoes in Florida?

An EF-2 tornado touched down in Central Florida on Monday, March 10, 2025. It was estimated to be 300 yards wide at its widest, traveled at least 4 miles, and had maximum winds of 115 mph, similar to a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane. Does Florida get tornadoes? How common are tornadoes? FOX 35 meteorologist Noah Bergren explains.

Where is the safest place in your home during a tornado?

What you can do:

If a tornado warning is issued, seek shelter right away.

Find the most-interior room in your house or building, such as a closet, bathroom or another room.

Stay away from windows and doors. If you are outside, get inside right away.

Tornado safety tips: Here's what to do

Stay informed: Watch FOX 35 on TV or in the FOX Local app (available on cell phones and streaming apps) for the latest weather forecast, weather alerts and severe weather alerts. Visit FOX35Orlando.com for the latest weather forecast and to view live radar.
Turn on notifications: Keep emergency notifications and FOX 35 alerts on and active.

Orlando 7-Day Weather Forecast

FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar and Live Weather Cameras

Track live when storms move across your area using the FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar below. You can also watch as heavy rain moves across Central Florida on our Live Weather Cameras' page here.