JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The strong cold front that left a trail of deaths and damage as it moved through Alabama on Christmas Day is could bring strong, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes as it moves through Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia early Wednesday.
The front should reach Lake City around dawn. Ahead of this cold front, expect showers and strong thunderstorms that will move quickly through the area, with clearing by mid-afternoon.
Current radar | Watches, warnings
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center places our area under a slight risk for severe weather based on the strength of the approaching cold front, and the moist, warm air and energy across the Southeast. Because of the possibility of severe weather, Channel 4 has declared Wednesday a Weather Authority Alert Day.
Breezy conditions will develop overnight, with southerly winds building up to 15 mph. Wednesday will be even breezier, with a Lake Wind Advisory in effect and winds ranging between 20-25 mph and gusts around 35 mph. Stronger gusts of wind are expected within thunderstorms.
Downed trees and power outages will be isolated, and slight damage to structures is possible. The threat for severe thunderstorms will diminish after the morning hours as the front will move offshore around 2 pm.
Clearing skies and colder temperatures usher in the evening hours. Temperatures will hover just above freezing for overnight lows for the following few mornings.