Tropical Storm Warning Issued for Southern Liberty; Major Flooding Expected

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Southern Liberty, including Central City and Apalachicola National Forest, effective immediately, October 9 at 8:28 AM EDT, and expiring at 4:30 PM UTC on October 9, 2026. Residents in these areas need to act now to prepare for hazardous conditions.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, FL, forecasts peak winds of 10-20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, with a potential for sustained winds of 39 to 57 mph. Efforts to protect property should be underway, and all preparations should be completed before hazardous winds arrive. Expect limited damage to lightweight structures and numerous broken tree limbs, potentially causing scattered power outages and making some roads impassable.

A Flood Watch is in effect, with an additional 4-8 inches of rain, and locally higher amounts, anticipated. This brings a potential for major flooding. Emergency plans should account for possible evacuations and rescues. Heed all flood watches and warnings; failure to act could result in serious injury or loss of life. Major rainfall flooding may prompt widespread evacuations, with rivers and small waterways rapidly overflowing. Many structures could be impacted, and driving conditions will become extremely dangerous due to submerged roads and potential road closures.

Additionally, the situation is favorable for several tornadoes, some potentially intense. Those in manufactured homes or on boats should relocate to safe shelter. Listen for tornado watches and warnings, and be ready to shelter quickly if one is issued. Tornadoes can cause significant damage, including widespread power and communication failures, torn-off roofs, and overturned vehicles.

There is little to no threat of storm surge flooding. For more information, visit NWS Tallahassee at https://www.weather.gov/tallahassee or the Florida Division of Emergency Management at https://www.floridadisaster.org.