Wind, hail reported across Gainesville and Alachua County

Gainesville residents were battered early Friday evening with a mix of rain, hail and wind.

“It’s a lot of cold air aloft with pretty warm air at the surface and some drier air initially at the beginning and then moistening up at the surface really quickly, and that kind of sets the state for this type of situation,” a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville said.

A second line of storms with hail is expected around 8:30 p.m. Friday.

“It shouldn’t be as ominous as the first round, though,” the meteorologist said. “After that line passes you guys will be in the clear.”

Winds of at least 43 mph were reported at the Exactech office off Northwest 13th Street.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Wind and hail reported across Gainesville and Alachua County