FPREN

Updated at 5:15 a.m. ET Sunday

South Texas is braced for flooding after Hurricane Hanna began battering the state. The first hurricane of the season made landfall twice Saturday as a Category 1 storm.

The first landfall happened at around 5 p.m. about 15 miles north of Port Mansfield, which is about 130 miles south of Corpus Christi, according to the National Weather service. The second landfall took place nearby in eastern Kenedy County. The storm arrived with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.

Hanna is the first named hurricane of the season that began in June. 

Hurricane #Hanna Advisory 10A: Noaa Hurricane Hunters and Doppler Weather Radars Find Hanna Has Become the First Hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc

Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes are possible across North Florida beginning as early as midday Thursday, as a powerful low pressure storm system carves through the Deep South. 

The risk of potentially destructive weather is greatest in the Panhandle Thursday afternoon and evening, followed by The

Wind damage, hail, and even a tornado are possible across portions of north and central Florida Saturday. A second and more widespread outbreak of severe weather is expected Sunday night across the Florida Panhandle.

Both events are tied to another strong storm system moving through the Southeast, nearly one week after the Easter Sunday outbreak that produced more than 100 tornadoes and claimed at least 36 lives.

Severe storms swept across much of the Southeast on Sunday, spawning a series of tornadoes that killed at least six people in Mississippi and caused damage in parts of northern Louisiana and Alabama.

The tornadoes were part of a band of severe weather from the Mississippi River to the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service.

At least six people died in Mississippi, where early reports said that a dozen or more tornadoes touched down, according to The Associated Press.

A soaking rain is likely across the Sunshine State Sunday, and it could be heavy enough to cause river or street flooding in some areas. Thunderstorms capable of producing minor wind damage or a brief tornado are also possible in portions of South Florida Sunday afternoon, although considerable uncertainty remains on whether this risk will materialize.

Update 5:00 PM Monday: The season’s third tropical depression has formed between the Bahamas and Florida.

The National Hurricane Center says it’s located about 120 miles southeast of West Palm Beach as of the 5 PM advisory. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph. The depression is moving toward the northwest at 13 mph.

The depression is not forecast to reach tropical storm status. There are no changes to the forecast of locally heavy rain and gusty winds outlined in the 3 PM update below.

Fewer hurricanes are expected this year than the last two seasons, according to renowned researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University. However, both of those seasons far outperformed expectations.

Even Phil doesn't have much confidence in his forecast this time of year.

“So our skill in April is modest, and that's because the hurricane season doesn't start until June and then doesn't ramp up until August. So obviously there's a lot that could change in the atmosphere and ocean,” he says.

A few strong thunderstorms are possible across the Florida Panhandle Wednesday evening, then across portions of the peninsula early Thursday morning.

The storm system that produced severe thunderstorms across portions of Florida Thursday has a mean back side that will sweep across the state Friday. High winds, dangerous surf, and coastal flooding are possible along all coastlines of the Sunshine State, and gusty winds might also cause minor wind damage in some inland locations.

Update Sunday 1 pm: The National Hurricane Center issued an intermediary update Sunday afternoon to advise that “satellite wind data indicated the depression has strengthened” into a tropical storm and has now acquired the name Michael. The story below has been revised to include this new information.

A tropical depression or storm is likely to form near the Yucatan Peninsula by Monday. It is then forecast to move north and potentially threaten portions of the Florida's Gulf Coast by midweek. Floridians from Pensacola to Tampa should closely monitor the progress of this developing situation.

Florence became a hurricane again Sunday morning, and is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by Monday. There is a growing concern that Florence will be a dangerous, slow-moving and significant threat to the Mid-Atlantic states later this week.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for all north & central Florida until 7 pm. The potential exists for a significant outbreak of severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado, destructive wind gusts up to 70 mph, and hail as large as nickels.

According to the latest data from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network team of meteorologists, here is when the risk is the greatest for various regions around Florida.

Irma strengthened Monday afternoon to a Category 4 storm, and the latest forecast data suggests the Major Hurricane will approach South Florida this weekend. It was too soon to make or deny that call in the past few days, but it’s now time for all Floridians in a hurricane prone area - no matter which coast you live along - to take Irma seriously.

It has been raining along the southwest coast of Florida for the majority of the past three days. While not nearly as severe or widespread as the flooding in Texas from former Hurricane Harvey, many residents from Bradenton to Naples are finding roads closed and cars stalled because of the high water.

The most active period of the Atlantic hurricane season is quickly approaching, and there are two areas of interest to keep an eye on. Neither system is an immediate threat to Florida, but one in particular could be cause for concern in about a week.