According to Emergency Management Agency director Susan Harris, isolated severe storms are possible starting Saturday, ahead of a cold front that is expected bring a hard freeze to the area.

“A linear complex of showers and thunderstorms is expected to spread across our area late Saturday morning into Saturday afternoon ahead of an approaching strong cold front,” Harris said. “Conditions will be favorable for isolated severe storms.”

She said that there is now a marginal risk of severe weather across all of the region on Saturday.

“ A few storms will be capable of producing localized damaging wind gusts and possibly a tornado,” Harris said.

The timing of the severe threat will be from late Saturday through Saturday afternoon, Harris said.

“It currently appears that the timing of the storm will be roughly in the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. time frame on Saturday,” Harris said. “The severe threat ends following the passage of a strong cold front Saturday afternoon.”

She said that rainfall amounts are currently not expected to be excessively heavy, given the progressive movement of showers and storms over the area on Saturday.

“Rainfall amounts should generally average between one half and one inch,” Harris said. “Though isolated amounts up to around two inches will be possible.”

Another cold front will be heading for Covington County as well, Harris said.

“Much colder temperatures are expected behind the storm front, Sunday and Sunday night,” Harris said. “There is also potential for a freeze over most areas away from the immediate coast by Sunday night, where lows should range in the mid 20s to around 30 degrees.”