Okaloosa County residents should prepare for possible severe weather conditions starting Tuesday, according to county officials.
- Patrick Maddox, Okaloosa County’s Public Safety Director, issued a weather advisory Sunday warning of scattered severe thunderstorms and strong non-thunderstorm winds expected to affect the entire area Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning.
“The atmosphere will be conducive for thunderstorms,” Maddox said in the advisory. However, he noted there remains uncertainty about how strong these storms might become.
Officials have high confidence that the county will see thunderstorms, with medium confidence regarding the threat of damaging straight-line winds. The tornado threat assessment remains low, according to the advisory.
Non-thunderstorm winds are expected to be breezy on Tuesday, with sustained winds of 20-25 mph and gusts reaching 35-40 mph. A Wind Advisory may become necessary as conditions develop.
- Maddox indicated that weather conditions throughout Tuesday will influence the severity of the storms. “More cloud cover and less heating during the day would lessen the threat. Less cloud cover and more heating during the day would increase the threat,” he explained.
Authorities will also monitor the potential for isolated thunderstorms developing ahead of the main line, though this scenario remains highly uncertain.
The weather system is expected to affect the entire Okaloosa County area.