Pensacola area could see three separate rounds of severe weather over next 24 hours

Severe weather is on tap for the Pensacola area Thursday afternoon through Friday morning with the chance of three separate rounds of storms.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the severe weather risk for northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to an "enhanced risk" or level 3 of 5 while the rest of the area remains in a "slight risk" or level 2 of 5.

There is a smaller chance of severe storms on Thursday afternoon, but a more intense complex of storms is expected to move through late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

The storms could produce damaging winds of up to 70 mph and golf-ball-sized hail in the more severe storms.

The Weather Service said a tornado or two also cannot be ruled out.

Depending on how the storms evolve, the Weather Service said there is a chance that more severe storms could develop in coastal areas between 7 a.m. and noon on Friday. Confidence that the third round of storms will develop is low, the Weather Service said, but if they do form, they will be capable of producing large hail.

See the latest watches and warnings in effect for Escambia, Santa Rosa, counties

Radar for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa counties, including Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach

Rainfall expected? See the latest forecast for Pensacola

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area could see three separate rounds of severe weather over next 24 hours