Tornado warning issued for Pace, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties remain under tornado watch
Update 6:50 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Pace until 7:15 p.m.
The previous tornado warning issued for southern Escambia County and Eastern Escambia County has been rescinded.
Update 6:25 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for southern Santa Rosa County and eastern Escambia County until 6:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service said a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles southeast of Pensacola Beach and was moving north at 45 mph.
The storm will be near Oriole Beach at 6:30 p.m. and will move over Ferry Pass, Pace, Floridatown, and Pea Ridge around 6:45 p.m.
Original story: Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are under a tornado watch until midnight because of Hurricane Zeta.
Thunderstorms from Hurricane Zeta will have the potential to produce tornadoes as they move through the area.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for much of the Gulf Coast on Wednesday afternoon. Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties are included in the watch area. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes.
Hurricane Zeta has strengthened to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph near the center, according to the latest report from the National Hurricane Center.
The Pensacola area remains under a tropical storm warning and is expected to receive winds between 30 and 40 mph with stronger gusts. Coastal areas in Pensacola also are under a storm surge warning with the potential for storm surge of between 2 to 4 feet as Zeta moves through the area.
Latest on Hurricane Zeta
► Hurricane Zeta: Common questions about Zeta, hurricanes and the storm season answered here
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► Hurricane Zeta closings in Escambia, Santa Rosa counties on Wednesday
Area beaches also are under a high surf warning until 6 p.m. Thursday. The weather service said waves of 10 to 15 feet are possible, bringing with them dangerous rip currents.
Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.