Three Rotating Storms Tracking Toward Daytona Beach and Flagler Beach Saturday Evening With Large Hail and Brief Tornado Threat After 7 PM Including Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Three small supercells are riding the leading edge of a remnant front across north-central Florida as of 5:33 PM Saturday May 9, 2026, all showing broad rotation aloft and drifting slowly to the southeast. None are strong enough for warnings at this time but all three carry the potential to turn severe with large hail, damaging wind gusts or even a brief tornado as they drift toward the coast through the evening. Anyone at Rockville at Daytona International Speedway should be heads up for strong storms entering from the northwest after 7 PM.

Three Storm Locations at 5:33 PM

Radar and storm wind velocity at 5:33 PM show three distinct rotating cells with 79 total lightning strikes across the cluster:

• Western cell — northwest of Pierson: The most intense reflectivity core on the display with deep red and purple returns, showing broad rotation circled on radar with the pink arrow indicating southeastward drift toward the Daytona Beach corridor
• Central cell — near Pierson: A second rotating cell tracking southeast with broad rotation indicated, positioned to arrive over Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach through the evening
• Eastern cell — near Flagler Beach: A third cell already approaching the coast near Flagler Beach showing rotation on the storm wind velocity panel

What the Storm Wind Data Shows

The velocity panel at 5:33 PM shows rotation signatures circled in pink on all three cells:

• Western cell: Red and green couplet indicating rotation — winds moving toward and away from the radar within the same small area
• Central cell near Pierson: Rotation signature with southeastward arrow tracking the cell toward Daytona Beach
• Flagler Beach cell: Green return indicating inflow circulation near the coast

None of the three rotations are yet strong enough to trigger a tornado warning but all three are being actively monitored for intensification.

Who Needs to Be Alert Right Now

• Daytona International Speedway and Rockville event attendees — strong storms expected to enter from the northwest after 7 PM — have a shelter plan identified before storms arrive
• Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach — the western and central cells are tracking directly toward this corridor through the evening
• Flagler Beach and Palm Coast — the eastern cell is already approaching the coast and could produce large hail or gusty winds in the near term
• Pierson area — sitting between two active cells with the central rotation tracking directly overhead

What to Do Right Now

• Rockville and Speedway attendees: identify your closest permanent shelter before 7 PM — do not wait until warnings are issued
• Do not stand in open areas, parking lots or near large trees when these cells pass through — lightning, large hail and gusty winds can arrive with little additional warning
• Monitor radar every 15 minutes — slow-moving cells like these can intensify quickly as they approach the coast
• Large hail is the most likely severe hazard — move vehicles to covered parking if possible before 7 PM

WaldronNews.com will continue tracking these three rotating storms across north-central Florida and will provide immediate updates if any warnings are issued as the cells approach Daytona Beach and Flagler Beach Saturday evening.