{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.1021af3ddcb6fd4bfe53aaa6604b9c2c68b1ab12.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Tropical Storm Watch issued July 20 at 4:50PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-07-20","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.1021af3ddcb6fd4bfe53aaa6604b9c2c68b1ab12.001.1","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS Tallahassee FL"},"word_count":658,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Tropical Storm Watch: Tropical Storm Watch issued July 20 at 4:50PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL\n\n**Severity:** Severe\n**Certainty:** Possible\n**Urgency:** Future\n**Areas:** South Walton\n**Issued by:** NWS Tallahassee FL\n**Sent:** 2026-07-20T16:50:00-04:00\n**Effective:** 2026-07-20T16:50:00-04:00\n**Expires:** 2026-07-21T01:00:00-04:00\n\n## Description\n* LOCATIONS AFFECTED\n- Santa Rosa Beach\n- Sandestin\n- Freeport\n\n* WIND\n- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind\n- Peak Wind Forecast: 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph\n\n- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST\nUNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 39\nto 57 mph\n- The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the\nprevious assessment.\n- PLAN: Plan for hazardous wind of equivalent tropical storm\nforce.\n- PREPARE: Efforts to protect property should now be\nunderway. Prepare for limited wind damage.\n- ACT: Act now to complete preparations before the wind\nbecomes hazardous.\n\n- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited\n- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored\nmobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.\n- Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or\nuprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees\nare shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown\nover.\n- A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within\nurban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving\nconditions on bridges and other elevated roadways.\n- Scattered power and communications outages.\n\n* STORM SURGE\n- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Localized storm surge possible\n- Peak Storm Surge Inundation: The potential for up to 2 feet\nabove ground somewhere within surge prone areas\n- Window of concern: through Thursday morning\n\n- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST\nUNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for storm\nsurge flooding greater than 1 foot above ground\n- The storm surge threat has remained nearly steady from the\nprevious assessment.\n- PLAN: Shelter against storm surge flooding greater than 1\nfoot above ground.\n- PREPARE: All flood preparations should be complete. Expect\nflooding of low-lying roads and property.\n- ACT: Stay away from storm surge prone areas. Continue to\nfollow the instructions of local officials.\n\n- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Unfolding\n- Potential impacts from the main surge event are unfolding.\n\n* FLOODING RAIN\n- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:\n- Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 1-3 inches, with locally\nhigher amounts\n\n- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST\nUNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for\nlocalized flooding rain\n- The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from\nthe previous assessment.\n- PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for\nlocalized flooding from heavy rain.\n- PREPARE: Consider protective actions if you are in an area\nvulnerable to flooding.\n- ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings.\n\n- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited\n- Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations.\n- Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter\ncurrents. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become\nswollen and overflow in spots.\n- Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in\nusually vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding\nof water occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor\ndrainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds\nbecome near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and\nbridge closures.\n\n* TORNADO\n- LATEST LOCAL FORECAST:\n- Situation is unfavorable for tornadoes\n\n- THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST\nUNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Tornadoes not expected\n- The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the\nprevious assessment.\n- PLAN: Tornadoes are not expected. Showers and thunderstorms\nwith gusty winds may still occur.\n- PREPARE: Little to no preparations needed to protect\nagainst tornadoes at this time. Keep informed of the latest\ntornado situation.\n- ACT: Listen for changes in the forecast.\n\n- POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Little to None\n- Little to no potential impacts from tornadoes.\n\n* FOR MORE INFORMATION:\n- Local Weather Conditions and Forecasts: NWS Tallahassee\n- https://www.weather.gov/tallahassee\n- Information from the Florida Division of Emergency Management\n- https://www.floridadisaster.org\n- Information from Walton County Emergency Management\n- https://www.co.walton.fl.us/1063/Emergency-Management"}