Press Releases

  

Investigator Dewayne Gardner & Detention Officer James Riley were both sworn today by Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.  Welcome.

 

Bottom Line:

The severe weather threat continues today across southwest Georgia and the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend. A low-end flash flood threat also continues as the line of storms slowly moves eastward. Dangerous beach conditions remain along all beaches

Severe Weather Threat:

A line of thunderstorms will slowly move through the area today along a cold front. The line of storms may weaken a bit near sunrise, but it is expected to stall briefly and re-intensify this morning near the Apalachicola and Flint Rivers. Damaging winds and brief tornadoes will be the primary severe weather concerns. The Storm Prediction Center continues a Marginal to Slight Risk (level 1-2 of 5) for most of the area with the higher threat mostly over our Georgia and FL Big Bend counties.

 

 

Given the slow movement and reorganization of storms, timing is a bit difficult to pin down. Generally:

Central Time Zone counties (except Gulf County): through 10 AM CT.  Southwest Georgia & western Big Bend and Gulf County: 10 AM to 4 PM ET.  I-75 Corridor and the Suwannee Valley: 2 PM to 8 PM ET. 

Note that moderate rain with some embedded non-severe storms will continue for several hours behind the main line of storms.

Flash Flood Threat:

The heaviest rainfall this morning will continue over southeast Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle where another 1-2 inches of rain is expected. Farther east, as the line stalls and reorganizes near the Flint and Apalachicola Rivers, another area of locally heavy rainfall is possible. This area could see 2-3 inches of rain, which if it falls in a short period of time, could lead to a localized flash flood threat. Widespread moderate rain will likely continue for several hours after the main line of storms passes.

 

Dangerous Beach Conditions:

While winds will be a bit lighter today, the rip current risk remains high along all of our beaches as it will take time for the surf to subside.

Adriannea Wynn, Caleb Parks & Tsahai Weir were all sworn in today by Sheriff Gene Scarbrough as Detention Officers.

 

     The Storm Prediction Center has maintained an Enhanced Risk(Level 3 of 5) of severe thunderstorms for today across most of the area.  Meanwhile, a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms remains for the southeast big bend of Florida.      The main hazard is scattered to numerous instances of damaging wind gusts impacting trees and power lines across the region as a squall line moves through.  However, a couple of tornadoes are also possible along with isolated large hail.      The latest timing graphic is attached. There are no significant changes in the timing forecast compared to yesterday. The most likely time of arrival for our Central time zone counties is 11am-2pm CDT with it most likely to arrive between 3pm-6pm EDT for areas like Tallahassee, Tifton, Apalachicola, and Albany. If the line is able to hold together, then it is forecast to be moving through the southeast Florida Big Bend between 5-8pm EDT.      Make sure your plans today include a severe weather contingency. Severe thunderstorm or tornado watches are possible later this morning.

"The Tift County Sheriff's Office is proud to be a part of VINE, victim information & notification everyday as of today.  This is a statewide automated victim notification system, that will provide timely and accurate information to victims.  This will ensure they are informed about the custody status of offenders," according to Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.

Key Features of VINE Appriss:

Real-time notifications: Receive instant updates on offender status changes. Accessibility: Access information via phone, online, or mobile app. User-friendly interface: Navigate the system easily, ensuring a seamless user experience. Multilingual support: Cater to diverse communities by providing information in multiple languages. 24/7 availability: VINE Appriss operates around the clock to provide continuous support to victims. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottom Line:

Confidence is increasing for a potentially significant severe weather event Saturday night into Sunday morning. A Moderate Risk (level 4 of 5) for severe weather is now in place across Southeast Alabama and portions of the Florida Panhandle. An Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) remains further east into the Tallahassee area. 

 

 

Overview:

A broken line of severe thunderstorms is forecast to push across the area from west to east Saturday night into Sunday morning. Potentially significant severe weather is possible, including strong (EF2+) long-track tornadoes, damaging winds of 70+ mph, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall. This tornado threat is particularly dangerous given the overnight timing. Please encourage folks to have multiple ways to receive warnings in the middle of the night.  

 

Bottom Line:

Two rounds of severe weather are possible. Today and again this upcoming weekend. The greatest of the severe threats is likely to be this weekend and it is also likely to be the strongest severe risk we've seen of this spring severe season so far. 

 

 

Overview:

Today (Thursday)

Showers and thunderstorms will begin to develop after 12p ET across southern Alabama and move east through the day. Some intensification of these storms through the afternoon could lead to an isolated risk for severe weather. The main concerns would be the potential for isolated damaging wind gusts (40 to 60 mph) and the potential for hail (up to quarter-size). Tornado probabilities are very low but a brief weak tornado can't be ruled out across southeast Alabama this afternoon. Activity and severe threat begins to decrease after sunset tonight. A marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe weather is in place across southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia and portions of the Florida Panhandle.  

Saturday Evening into Sunday

A stronger severe threat, likely the strongest of the season so far, will develop Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning as a squall line forms to our west. As this squall line moves east Saturday evening into Sunday morning, scattered to widespread severe weather is forecast along a squall line.  An enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) is currently in place generally along and west of the Apalachicola/Flint rivers. All modes of severe weather (damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes) are possible. Currently, there is at least a 10% chance of seeing significant severe weather in the enhanced and moderate areas delineated in the attached outlook. Significant severe means the potential for either 2"+ hail, 70mph+ wind gusts, and/or strong (EF2+) tornadoes.  Some weakening of the squall line is possible as the system moves into south-central Georgia and east of the Apalachicola River, but all modes of severe weather will still remain possible with the main concerns being damaging straight-line winds.  Strong southerly winds ahead of the squall line are anticipated Saturday into Sunday morning, Sustained winds around 20 mph and gusts of 30 to 35 mph are possible, especially along the coast. Increased surf, life-threatening rip currents (especially for spring breakers), and hazardous boating conditions are expected. Minor coastal flooding (less than 2 ft) with the Saturday evening and Sunday morning high tide cycles is also possible.  The quick moving nature of this system will keep rainfall amounts generally under 2 inches, but localized flooding can't be ruled out in poor drainage areas Saturday night into Sunday. A marginal risk (level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall is in place across the entire region.

     

The Sheriff Office welcomed two Detention Officers, Deelantay Jackson & Alexis Martinez, and a new Deputy, Tristen Adams, this week after they were sworn in by Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.

Welcome.

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Our Tift County Sheriff's Office Explorer's recently competed at the 2025 Winterfest Competition in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  "Winterfest" is the largest gathering of Explorers in the United States.  Explorers compete in events such as vehicle stops, accident investigations & crime scene processing.  

Membership is available to anyone who is interested in Law Enforcement and is between 15 to 21 years old. Individuals who are 14 years old and have completed the 8th grade are also eligible for membership. Explorers meet twice a month and receive instructions on topics dealing with many areas of law enforcement including traffic patrol, domestic violence, and tactical operations.  After completing a probationary period and receiving specific training Explorers may participate in the "ride along" program in which they accompany a Deputy on patrol.

For information concerning scheduled meetings, additional membership requirements and other Explorer Post activities contact the Tift County Sheriff's Office at (229) 388-6021.

Good Friday morning,

 

Bottom Line:

Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible beginning late Saturday night and continuing into the daytime hours on Sunday.

 

There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms generally across southeast Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) elsewhere for this event.

 

 

Overview:

A cold front will move across the area late Saturday night into Sunday. Along and ahead of this front, a squall line is likely to move across the area. The strong to severe storms in the line could produce damaging wind gusts and a couple tornadoes. The highest threat is generally in the Central Time Zone counties during the overnight hours Saturday night. The squall line will likely exit the Suwannee Valley late Sunday afternoon.

 

Some locally heavy rainfall is possible, but the storms should be progressive enough to keep the overall flood threat low.