ORLANDO, Fla. — This live blog has ended. Click here for your latest weather forecast.
2:30 a.m.
Tornado watches for Brevard and Polk counties remain in effect. A severe thunderstorm warning for Brevard County has ended.
1:15 a.m.
The tornado warning for northeast Osceola County has been canceled.
1 a.m.
A tornado warning is in effect for Northeastern Osceola County.
11:30 p.m.
All of Central Florida remains under a tornado watch until 3 a.m. Friday.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for western Seminole County, Lake County, western Orange County and Central Volusia County until 12:15 a.m.
The storm is moving east at 50 mph and could produce wind gusts in excess of 70 mph.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE DOPPLER 9 <<<
Considerable tree damage is expected. Damage to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings is expected.
Affected locations include Orlando, Deltona, Daytona Beach, Sanford and Apopka.
Chief meteorologist Tom Terry, meteorologist Kassandra Crimi and meteorologist George Waldenberger are tracking the storm through the night. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps.
Watch live radar below:
Read: NOAA: Weather radio off air in parts of Central Florida; how to stay informed
10:50 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ground stop for all air traffic destined for Orlando International Airport. Click here for more information on the ground stop.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TOM TERRY LIVE ON CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS <<<
All of Central Florida is under a tornado watch until 3 a.m. Friday.
Chief meteorologist Tom Terry is tracking the storms in Severe Weather Center 9. Click here to watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News, and click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE DOPPLER 9 <<<
10 p.m.
All of Central Florida remains under a tornado watch until 3 a.m. Friday.
Severe thunderstorms arrived in Marion County shortly after 9:30 p.m. A severe thunderstorm has been issued until 10:30 p.m.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TOM TERRY LIVE ON CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS <<<
Storms could develop winds in excess of 60 to 70 mph.
Expect considerable tree damage and damage to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings.
>>> CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE DOPPLER 9 <<<
Storms will reach metropolitan Orlando by midnight.
Chief meteorologist Tom Terry is tracking the storms in Severe Weather Center 9. Click here to watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News, and click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps.
Read: NOAA: Weather radio off air in parts of Central Florida; how to stay informed
9:25 p.m.
All of Central Florida is under a tornado watch until 3 a.m. Friday.
Isolated tornadoes are possible throughout the area.
The storm is about 30 minutes away from Central Florida, Terry said.
Know the difference: Tornado Warning vs. Tornado Watch
8:30 p.m.
Chief meteorologist Tom Terry and Kassandra Crimi are updating the forecast of the storms.
As we get closer to midnight, the storms will reach closer to the I-4 corridor. Between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. winds may reach 55 mph in some areas, Terry said.
8:22 p.m.
Flagler County is under a tornado watch until midnight.
8:20 p.m.
WFTV reporter Megan Cruz is on scene in Windermere after the wind knocked a tree into a power line, taking out the electricity to some homes in the area.
8:15 p.m.
Walt Disney World announced on its website it is making adjustments to the entertainment and transportation because of the high winds.
Epcot Forever, Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rivers of Light: We are One at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and the Electrical Water Pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon were canceled.
Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom Park, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort were modified.
The Sassagoula River Cruise and the Disney Skyliner are not operating.
[ For additional details on the weather updates at Disney, click here. ]
7:30 p.m.
We’re here to keep you safe. Here’s a reminder about driving in the rain in Florida:
7:15 p.m.
SR 408 has reopened in all directions, the Orlando Police Dept. confirmed.
[ Details about the closure on SR 408 ]
7:00 p.m.
Traffic in downtown Orlando is bad because of the high winds and the closure of the 408 at I-4.
6:30 p.m.
64 lightning strikes have been detected in the last 15 minutes in the Florida panhandle. This line of storms is still expected to arrive in Central Florida around 10 p.m.
6:20 p.m.
“It’s a big wall of wind,” Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry says.
The wind is a big concern with this storm system. Winds in North Florida are around 60 mph. Tom Terry just said on Eyewitness News at 6 that winds in Central Florida have been clocked at 56 mph.
6:10 p.m.
Marion County is beginning to see some rain.
5:55 p.m.
The Orlando Police Department said it has shut down State Road 408 in both directions at Interstate 4 due to loose scaffolding and windy conditions on one of the overpasses that is under construction.
[ READ: Details about the 408 Closure at I-4 in Orlando ]
5:50 p.m.
Marion and Flagler Counties are under a Tornado Watch.
5:45 p.m.
A tornado watch is already in effect for all of NE Florida. This is the same system that is headed for Central Florida.
5:40 p.m.
Have y’all been outside to feel how windy it is? We’ve already felt 40-mile-per-hour wind gusts in Central Florida.
4:10 p.m.: Reporter Ken Tyndall tell you what you need to know about the NOAA weather radio signal being down:
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READ: NOAA: Weather radio off air in parts of Central Florida, how to stay informed
4 p.m.: Chief meteorologist Tom Terry said strong andgust winds are the primary threat after 9 p.m. through 3 a.m. Thursday. He said Polk City in Polk County clocked a 56 mph wind gust at 3:07 p.m.
He said Sanford also set a record high temperature Thursday at 87 degrees.
3:45 p.m.: Meteorologist Tom Terry will bring you LIVE forecast updates on Channel 9 starting at 4 p.m.
3:15 p.m.:
3 p.m.: The Daytona Beach NOAA Weather Radio is off the air. Officials said the transmitted from Daytona Beach is not broadcasting audio due to an issue with the phone company. Officials are unsure whether the issue will resolved before Thursday night.
>>> Click here to download the WFTV weather app for live updates and alerts on your phone <<<
2:30 p.m.: The city of Mount Dora issued an announcement to citizens to prepare for potential severe weather Thursday night:
“Please be safe, make sure you have your weather alerts on and be aware of possible heavy lightning, winds and potential power outages in Mount Dora. Our crews will work as quickly as they can when it is safe to do so, to restore power and services should you lose them. Try to stay off the roads if you can. Threats are wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour, possible tornadoes and frequent lightning strikes. Be sure to bring your pets inside.”
2:15 p.m.: Marion County Public Schools announced that it has canceled all after-school activities Thursday evening due to severe weather.
1:45 p.m.: Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry said storm winds are already moving into Central Florida ahead of the storms. A wind advisory is in effect.
>>> Click here to download the WFTV weather app for live updates and alerts on your phone <<<
1:30 p.m.: The Salvation Army activated its overnight severe weather shelter ahead of the line of severe storms on its way to Central Florida. The shelters listed below will open at 4 p.m. Thursday:
- For women and children: 400 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32804
- For men: 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
READ: Severe storms threaten Central Florida; isolated tornadoes possible
1 p.m.: Now is the time to get prepared before the storms hit.
9:40 a.m.: A groundstop is in effect at Hartsfield Jackson-Atlanta International Airport until 9:45 a.m., according to the FAA.
Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates: