Florida, 1997

Winter Storm in Florida, December 15, 1997

December 15, 1997 · NWS JAX · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

A strong Low pressure system whipped up seas of 10 to 12 feet, causing moderate beach erosion. The storm damaged the Flagler Beach Pier.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$175,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.

A strong Low pressure system whipped up seas of 10 to 12 feet, causing moderate beach erosion. The storm damaged the Flagler Beach Pier. An employee, 36, male, of a firm rebuilding the pier was tossed into the water and floated to shore about 10 blocks South of the pier. He was treated for hypothermia.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, St. Johns

When
December 15, 7:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
St. Johns forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000

Winter Storm, St. Johns

When
December 15, 7:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
St. Johns forecast zone
Property damage
$30,000

Winter Storm, Duval

When
December 15, 7:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Duval forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000

Winter Storm, Nassau

When
December 15, 7:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Nassau forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
30.611, -81.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Flagler

When
December 15, 7:30 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Flagler forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
29.471, -81.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5625196, 5625197, 5625198, 5625199, 5625195.