Watches, warnings issued in Central Florida due to Hurricane Helene

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tornado warnings were issued Thursday in Brevard, Polk and Volusia counties, but there no reports of any tornadoes touching down.

There were also no reports of any widespread serious damage.

However, all of Central Florida is under a tornado watch until 6 a.m. Friday.

Severe weather is possible across Central Florida as Hurricane Helene churns from Florida into the U.S.

Helene became a major hurricane before reaching Florida’s Big Bend region.

Watches and warnings were issued -- and some still exist -- for parts of Florida.

[RELATED: CONE, MODELS, SATELLITE | COUNTY-BY-COUNTY impacts | TIMELINE: When Helene will impact Central Fla. | Here’s what the ‘dirty side’ of a storm means | LIVE RADAR | DOWNLOAD: WKMG-TV free hurricane app]

Here are the types of warnings that can be issued:

• Storm surge watch: This means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
• Tropical storm warning: This means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
• Tropical storm watch: This means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
• Hurricane watch: This means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
• Hurricane warning: This means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 12-24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

Here are the Central Florida counties that were placed under a hurricane warning:

• Marion (western, central, eastern)

Here are the Central Florida counties placed under a tropical storm warning:

• Orange
• Osceola
• Lake
• Polk
• Seminole
• Sumter
• Volusia (coastal, inland)
• Flagler (coastal, inland)

Volusia and Lake counties were also under a flood warning.

Flagler and Volusia counties were under a high surf advisory, and Flagler County was under a coastal flood warning.

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