Alert archive / Florida / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Jacksonville, FL

March 18, 2021Alachua County, Gilchrist County, Florida

NWS Jacksonville, FL issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2021, 2:40 PM EDT for Alachua County, Gilchrist County, Florida. It was in force for 35 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 18, 2021, 2:40 PM EDT (18:40 UTC)
Expired
Mar 18, 2021, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Jacksonville, FL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Alachua County, FL, Gilchrist County, FL

The radar

The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:41 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 18, 2:41 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG6 Nnw Newberry, FLPOSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE. DAMAGE TO TRACTOR NEAR CR 337 & CR 232.
Mar 18, 2:46 PM EDTTORNADO6 Nnw Newberry, FLCORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 6 NNW NEWBERRY. BRIEF EF-0 TOUCHDOWN NEAR CR 337 & CR 232. BARN FELL ON A TRACTOR.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 18, 11:42 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Jacksonville, FL (KJAX), launched 12:00Z, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 132 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Jacksonville, FL at 12:00Z on 2021-03-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 162 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jacksonville, FL at 12:00Z on 2021-03-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 183 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
162 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-183 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
888 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
220 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

361 
WFUS52 KJAX 181840
TORJAX
FLC001-041-181915-
/O.NEW.KJAX.TO.W.0015.210318T1840Z-210318T1915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
240 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Gilchrist County in northern Florida...
  Northwestern Alachua County in northern Florida...

* Until 315 PM EDT.
    
* At 240 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Trenton, moving east at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  High Springs around 300 PM EDT.
  Alachua around 310 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 2963 8287 2971 8289 2988 8252 2967 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 1840Z 251DEG 35KT 2969 8277 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

NELSON
3 follow-up statements
439 
WWUS52 KJAX 181850
SVSJAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
250 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

FLC001-041-181915-
/O.CON.KJAX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210318T1915Z/
Gilchrist FL-Alachua FL-
250 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GILCHRIST AND NORTHWESTERN ALACHUA COUNTIES...
    
At 250 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near High Springs, or 11 miles east of Bell, moving east
at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  High Springs around 300 PM EDT.
  Alachua around 310 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 2964 8273 2976 8279 2988 8252 2967 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 248DEG 35KT 2973 8267 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

NELSON
487 
WWUS52 KJAX 181905
SVSJAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
305 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

FLC041-181914-
/O.CAN.KJAX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210318T1915Z/
Gilchrist FL-
305 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN GILCHRIST COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for northern
Florida.

LAT...LON 2988 8252 2983 8250 2975 8248 2969 8266
      2982 8266
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 239DEG 39KT 2982 8251 

$$

FLC001-181915-
/O.CON.KJAX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210318T1915Z/
Alachua FL-
305 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN ALACHUA COUNTY...
    
At 304 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Alachua, or 9 miles southwest of Worthington Spring,
moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Alachua County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 2988 8252 2983 8250 2975 8248 2969 8266
      2982 8266
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 239DEG 39KT 2982 8251 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

NELSON
990 
WWUS52 KJAX 181912
SVSJAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
312 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

FLC001-181922-
/O.EXP.KJAX.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-210318T1915Z/
Alachua FL-
312 PM EDT Thu Mar 18 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN ALACHUA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
315 PM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for northern
Florida.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Jacksonville.

LAT...LON 2988 8252 2983 8250 2975 8248 2969 8266
      2982 8266
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 250DEG 33KT 2982 8251 

$$

AK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jacksonville, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 18, 2:31 AM EDTWind AdvisoryJAXAlachua, Baker, Bradford, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist and 4 more15 hr
Mar 18, 11:53 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXHamilton, Suwannee82 min
Mar 18, 12:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXGilchrist, Suwannee50 min
Mar 18, 1:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXHamilton29 min
Mar 18, 1:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXColumbia, Suwannee42 min
Mar 18, 1:41 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXColumbia, Gilchrist, Suwannee49 min
Mar 18, 2:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXGilchrist43 min
Mar 18, 2:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXBaker, Bradford, Union66 min
Mar 18, 2:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXAlachua, Gilchrist46 min
Mar 18, 2:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXAlachua, Bradford, Union47 min
Mar 18, 3:07 PM EDTTornado WarningJAXAlachua, Bradford, Union23 min
Mar 18, 3:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXBaker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Union38 min
Mar 18, 3:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXDuval, Nassau50 min
Mar 18, 3:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAXBaker, Bradford, Clay, Duval36 min
Mar 18, 3:59 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningJAX91 min
Mar 18, 4:10 PM EDTTornado WarningJAXClay, Duval11 min
Mar 18, 4:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXSaint Johns19 min
Mar 18, 4:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXCitrus56 min
Mar 18, 4:52 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningJAX83 min
Mar 18, 5:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXDuval44 min
Mar 18, 6:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXDuval23 min
Mar 18, 6:10 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningJAX2 hr
Mar 18, 7:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementJAXSaint Johns51 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.