ORLANDO, Fla. - The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 5 p.m. for multiple counties in Florida, including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Marion, Suwannee, and Union. This watch comes as a potent cold front moves closer to Central Florida, bringing the possibility of severe weather.

Ahead of the front's arrival, Central Florida can expect scattered clouds throughout the day, with temperatures rising above average into the middle 80s. Despite these warmer conditions, winds are expected to remain calm until the frontal boundary approaches the region.

A level one "Marginal Risk" for severe weather has been designated for counties located northwest of Interstate 4. In these areas, a few thunderstorms are forecasted to potentially become strong to severe. The main impacts from these storms include damaging wind gusts between 40-50 mph, with the potential for stronger gusts, as well as heavy rain that may lead to minor flooding. Additionally, frequent lightning is anticipated, and while the threat of small hail exists, the possibility of an isolated tornado cannot be completely ruled out.

Thunderstorms are expected to move into the region after 5 p.m. on Sunday, accompanied by strong winds and pockets of heavy rain along the cold front. These conditions are likely to persist into the night.

Once the cold front passes, colder and drier air will sweep into the area, resulting in a chilly start to Monday morning. Wake-up temperatures are forecasted to be in the lower-to-middle 60s across the region, with daytime highs climbing into those same ranges.

As always, it is recommended that residents stay informed about the latest weather conditions and heed any warnings or advisories issued by local authorities. Stay tuned for updates and exercise caution during this period of potentially severe weather.

For additional news updates, visit Your Florida Daily, where you can get today's headlines in just minutes.