Updated, 3:22 p.m.: The tornado warning for Alachua County expired at 3:15 p.m.
Marion County was immediately placed under a tornado warning through 3:45 p.m.
2:45 p.m.: Alachua County was placed under a tornado warning through 3:15 p.m.
The National Weather Service urged people to shelter in place and move away from external doors and windows.
12:45 p.m.: Palatka closed city offices early Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of the storm's effects.
That follows a string of school closures announced late Monday.
Original story, Tuesday at 12:35 p.m.: Regions of north central Florida and southern Georgia are expecting severe weather on Tuesday as a line of storms moves across the southeast.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch through 6 p.m. for a region stretching from Charlotte, N.C., to 35 miles southeast of Gainesville.
The service's statement concluded: "A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings."
These north central Florida counties are included in the watch throughout the afternoon:
- Alachua
- Union
- Bradford
- Putnam
- Clay
- St. Johns