Thunderstorms Threaten Southeast, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys

By , Meteorologist
Mar 12, 2010; 9:55 AM ET
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The system destined to cause extensive flooding in the Northeast this weekend will produce strong, drenching storms that will menace three separate zones from the Ohio Valley to southern Florida into tonight.

Thursday, a few tornadoes touched down and caused damage in northern Florida. At midweek, severe storms hammered the southern Plains with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes that injured a handful of people.

Storms with potential for spawning damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, waterspouts, and flash flooding will hit southern Florida. Miami, Key West, and Homestead, Fla. all lie in the path of vigorous thunderstorms.

While the threat for severe weather has shifted to the south across the Sunshine State, torrential downpours may lead to some flooding across central Florida, spanning Vero Beach, Melbourne, Orlando, and Tampa.

Many areas have already been soaked by more than 2.0 inches of rain. Numerous roads were flooded in Ocala, Fla. Thursday, as nearly 6.0 inches of rain poured down over the area.

Meanwhile, a line of storms with a history of producing hail up to the size of tennis balls across parts of Mississippi and Alabama is pushing through eastern Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida.

Damaging winds and large hail will be the biggest threats with storms in that region.

The third area at risk for strong storms will be over portions of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, from Indiana, Illinois and Ohio through Tennessee.

The main threats into tonight include flash flooding and hail up to the size of nickels and quarters. A few of the strongest storms could trigger a short-lived tornado.

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