On January 7, a strong line of storms spawned several tornadoes on the east end of Panama City Beach, causing significant damage to buildings and homes. The Bay County Sheriff's Office reported that three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were injured and five armed suspects were killed in a cross-border shootout during the tornado outbreak123.
The tornadoes were part of a major winter storm that affected the eastern half of the US, bringing blinding snow, high winds and power outages to millions of people1. The storm also triggered severe flooding in Panama City, where residents expressed frustration with the city's aging stormwater system, which was unable to cope with the heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Fred and subsequent storms4.
Panama City Beach is not out of the woods yet, as more storms are expected to hit the area in the coming days. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the Florida Panhandle through Wednesday night, warning of possible rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts5. The weather service also advised residents to be prepared for possible tornadoes, damaging winds and hail.
Panama City Beach officials urged residents and visitors to remain vigilant and follow safety rules as they work to assess the damage and restore services in affected areas. Officials also thanked first responders and volunteers who helped with rescue and recovery efforts.
