Severe Weather Threat Across Southeast Today — Tornado Cannot Be Ruled Out

Damaging Winds Possible — Tornado Cannot Be Ruled Out Early

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By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published March 12th, 2026

Florida — The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a Day 1 Convective Outlook placing portions of the Southeastern United States under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe thunderstorms through Friday morning.

The outlook, issued 12:31 a.m. CDT Thursday (1:31 a.m. EDT), covers the period from 8:00 a.m. EDT Thursday through 8:00 a.m. EDT Friday.

Meteorologists say a well-developed squall line is moving east across the central Gulf Coast states, bringing the potential for isolated strong to severe storms across parts of the Southeast early Thursday morning into the afternoon hours.

Primary Threats

The Storm Prediction Center says storms may produce:

➡️ Damaging wind gusts
➡️ Isolated severe thunderstorms
➡️ A brief tornado cannot be ruled out early in the event

Forecasters say deep Gulf moisture has surged inland with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s, creating a favorable environment for storm development.

At the same time, a strong upper-level disturbance moving into Alabama and the Lower Mississippi Valley is expected to help organize thunderstorms into a fast-moving squall line.

Severe Weather Outlook / SPC

Where Storms Are Expected

The severe weather threat will focus on parts of:

Florida Panhandle
Southern Alabama
Southwest Georgia
The Carolinas

The line of storms is expected to move east through the morning hours, reaching parts of the Carolinas before pushing offshore later Thursday afternoon.

Meteorologists say the greatest severe threat will occur before 2 p.m. EDT, when a cold front is expected to push storms off the Carolina coast.

However, officials say severe weather is not expected in that region, though gusty winds and lightning are possible.

Source: National Weather Service SPC

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Credit: NOAA Weather Partners

What Residents Should Know

Even with a Marginal Risk, isolated severe storms can still cause impacts.

Residents across the Southeast should remain alert for:

⚠️ Strong wind gusts
⚠️ Brief heavy rain
⚠️ Isolated tornado potential early Thursday

🌐 Check the latest forecast at iSkyNews.com for live radar, severe weather alerts, and real-time storm tracking across Central Florida and the Southeast.