Thursday’s First Alert Weather Day: Storms, showers, and confirmed tornado

UPDATE | March 19 · 11:21 a.m.

Emergency Management in Piece County confirmed a tornado briefly touched down off June Road during severe weather Thursday.

The tornado caused roughly four trees to fall.

ORIGINAL STORY | March 18

First Alert Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh said rain will end on this First Alert Weather Day from west to east through 7 p.m. First Alert Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh said the line of showers/storms should be offshore by 10 p.m. – midnight.

HOW THE STORMS AFFECTED THE DAY:

• The Gateway Mall COVID-19 vaccination site stopped accepting patients on Thursday afternoon due to concerns of high winds and storms, according to FEMA. The site, as well as the satellite sites at the Oceanway Community Center and the Carver Recreational Center, will now reopen Friday morning at 7 a.m.
• Emergency management in Pierce County, Georgia, said a reported tornado touched down off of June Road in Northwest Pierce County. Four trees were knocked down and emergency managers are still assessing damage in the area.

• Duval County Public Schools have canceled after school practices and competitions Thursday because of inclement weather, DCPS Athletics Director Tammie Talley says. Afterschool care programs including extended day and Team up, will be held as normal. However, parents are encouraged to pick up their children early if possible. For students who normally walk home from school, if conditions are unsafe, walkers will be held at school until approved individuals are able to safely pick them up. Finally, with weather such as this, delays in transportation should be anticipated, the district says.
• Ware County Schools followed its early release schedule and released students home early Thursday morning ahead of the afternoon’s severe weather. AFFODIL and elementary schools released students at 10:30 a.m., middle schools released students at 11 a.m., and the high school released students at 11:30 am. All after-school events are also canceled for Thursday.

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We will see clearing Thursday night and temps will drop to the lower 50s by morning. Bedenbaugh said it will be dry tomorrow with highs in the lower 70s.

First Alert Meteorologist Alyssa Pejic said we will see big changes in time for the weekend.

Onshore winds will setup and a few showers will roll in off the Atlantic.

There will be rough beach conditions: windy, rough surge and high rip risk. High temperatures will only be in the 60s Saturday and Sunday. Conditions will clear up early next week.

INTERACTIVE RADAR: Keep track of the rain as it moves through your neighborhood

Cox Media Group