'Increased tornado threat' across Escambia, Santa Rosa counties remains Thursday morning

The National Weather Service is warning Escambia and Santa Rosa residents of increased tornado threats over the next several hours.

A tornado warning was issued for west central Santa Rosa County and north-central Escambia County, which expired at 9:45 a.m. Thursday.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Molino, or 12 miles north of Gonzalez, moving northeast at 15 mph, at 9 a.m. The NWS warns this tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central Santa Rosa and north central Escambia counties.

The National Weather Service tweeted an update at 9:42 a.m.:

"There is an increased tornado threat across the west Florida Panhandle into far south central Alabama for the next few hours. Instability and shear has increased along a surface boundary that is lifting slowly north. Stay alert for possible warnings."