Thunderstorm Wind, Duval
- When
- March 20, 4:00 AM EST
- Where
- Duval County, Jacksonville
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 30.350, -81.667
Large trees and power lines were blown down. Around 10,000 customers were without power.
Damaging Wind in Florida, March 20, 2001
1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 2:15 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 2:15 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
215 AM EST TUE MAR 20 2001
...MAIN PROBLEM OF THE DAY WILL BE CONVECTION/SEVERE WEATHER WITH A
TORNADO WATCH TO BE ISSUED MOMENTARY...
CURRENTLY...THE CANAVERAL EAST BUOY POPPED UP TO 35 KNOTS WITH SEAS
OF 19 FEET AT 11 P.M. & MIDNIGHT. ALSO...HAVE A SHIP AT 03 UTC NEAR
30.6N 79.3W WITH WINDS 080/41 KT...COMBINED SEAS TO 20 FEET AND THE
SKIDAWAY R2 TOWER JUST HIT 17 FEET AT 12:31 EST SO LOOKS TO ME LIKE
WINDS IN THE EASTERN MARINE AREA ARE INCREASING TO 35-40 KT WITH SEAS
UP TO 18 FT NEXT FEW HOURS..IF NOT ALREADY THERE. THE WINDS ARE BORNE
OUT BY THE MSAS WINDS ANAL PROGRAM WHICH IS BRING THE 35+ KT WINDS
JUST INTO THE EXTREME SERN MARINE ZONES. THINK THIS IS THE CORE OF
STRONGER WINDS IN THE CONVERGENCE ZONE AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT. CUDOS
TO NAVY COAMPS MODEL WHICH DID A BANG UP JOB ON THE HIGH SEAS
FORECAST.
MOST OF THE PRECIP IS SETTLING DOWN...FOR NOW...AS THE DRY SLOT
BEGINS TO PUNCH OVER THE REGION NEXT FEW HOURS. IMPRESSIVE UPPER
DIFFLUENCE EVIDENT OVER THE BIG BEND...SW GA AND LOWER AL ON WV
IMAGERY AHEAD OF THE UPPER LOW. SPC MESOSCALE DISCUSSION
HIGHLIGHTS THREAT OF CONVECTION NEXT FEW HOURS AND A TORNADO WATCH
MAY BE REQUIRED OVERNIGHT INTO THE MORNING HOURS. THE UPPER LOW
CENTER LOOKS TO BE AROUND LAFAYETTE LA...MOVING EAST. BEST CONVECTION
NOW BREAKING OUT OVER THE BIG BEND...APALACHICOLA AND PANHANDLE.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THE IMMEDIATE
COAST...A GALE WARNING OFFSHORE AND A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY. WILL
PROB DROP THE WIND ADVISORY IN THE MORNING ZONES AS THE HIGH SPEED
CONVERGENCE ZONE WINDS SHOULD BE NORTH OF THE COASTAL AREA BUT WILL
MAKE THAT DECISION AT THE LAST MINUTE BASED ON OBS. BASED ON THE
MESO-ETA MODEL IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE WELL HAVE TO HANG ON THE THE
GALE WARNING THROUGH THE 10:30 A.M. WILL TWEAK THE SEAS BACK
UP A TAD TO CONFORM TO OBSERVED DATA. PACKAGE. HIGH SURF IS A GIVEN
FOR THIS PACKAGE...WITH SEAS AS HIGH AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE AT
CANAVERAL EAST AND THE FETCH DIRECTLY AT THE COAST.
OVERALL IT LOOKS LIKE THE SURFACE LOW WILL BE OVER THE ALBANY GA
AREA AT 6 A.M. AND NEAR MACON BY NOON. AS THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO
OCCLUDE THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND WIND FIELD WILL BEGIN TO
ELONGATE TO THE EAST. THE WINDS SHIFT TO THE W AND SW AND DROP TO
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA BY NOON. HOWEVER...SEAS WILL REMAIN
LARGE AND CONFUSED AT LEAST INTO THE NIGHT.
THE NEXT PROBLEM WILL BE CONVECTION...THE UPPER LOW HANGS OVER THE
DOTHAN AREA TODAY WITH A 110 KT UPPER JET MAX MOVING AROUND THE BASE
OF THE LOW AND OVER THE FORECAST AREA (FA) THIS AFTERNOON. LOOKS LIKE
WE START THE DAY IN THE LEFT FRONT EXIT REGION AND END UP THE DAY IN
THE RIGHT REAR ACCELERATION REGION OF THIS JET. WITH THE UPPER LOW
APPROACHING THE REGION WE HAVE A COLD POOL ALOFT WHICH SHOULD HELP
TO INCREASE THE LAPSE RATES. SUSPECT THE GAINESVILLE/OCALA/LAKE
CITY AREA THE MAX DAYTIME TEMPS WILL BE ABOUT 4-5 DEGREES ABOVE MODEL
GUIDANCE AS THE DRY SLOT MOVES OVER THE REGION AND ALLOWS GREATER
DAYTIME HEATING. WILL HAVE A LOW LEVEL 35-40 KNOT FLOW OUT OF
APALACHEE BAY THIS AFTERNOON. NOT A 50-60 KNOT LOW LEVEL JET BUT
STILL RESPECTABLE. WILL COORD WITH SPC ON SEVERE THREAT FOR
DAYTIME.
OTHERWISE...CURRENT PRODUCTS LOOK GOOD BEYOND DAY ONE AND WILL
CONCENTRATE MY EFFORTS ON 1ST/2ND PERIODS. WILL TWEAK LATER PERIODS
BUT DONT FORESEE MANY CHANGES.
PRELIM
AMG 63/45/61/41 9531
SSI 59/47/63/44 8531
JAX 68/47/63/45 6532
GNV 70/46/63/45 5432 05
.JAX...
GA...RIVER FLOOD WARNING FOR ALTAMAHA RIVER @ CHARLOTTE & BAXLEY.
GALE WARNING ALTAMAHA SOUND TO FERNANDINA BCH OUT 60 NM.
HEAVY SURF ADVISORY TNGT ALTAMAHA SOUND TO FERNANDINA.
FL...GALE WARNING FERNANDINA BEACH TO FLAGLER BCH OUT 60 NM.
HEAVY SURF ADVISORY TNGT FERNANDINA TO FLAGLER.
SANDRIKIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 2:30 AM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040- GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-201800- NORTHEAST FLORIDA/SOUTHEAST GEORGIA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 230 AM EST TUE MAR 20 2001 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTH FLORIDA...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS THROUGH 8 AM EST... THREAT FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE MORNING AS LARGE SCALE RISING AIR AND A LOW LEVEL WARM AIR FLOW OUT OF APALACHEE BAY DESTABILIZE THE REGION. THIS IS COUPLED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE CENTER...INCREASING DEEP LAYER WIND SHEAR AND LOCALLY-ENHANCED LOW LEVEL SHEAR NEAR A WARM FRONT. THE CURRENT SETUP APPEARS FAVORABLE FOR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. A THREAT WILL ALSO EXIST FOR EMBEDDED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG COLD FRONT SQUALL LINE NOW THE FLORIDA BIG BEND. TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO 1 INCH AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. ADDITIONALLY...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ATLANTIC COAST FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA TO FLAGLER BEACH FLORIDA. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL AREAS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... CAMDEN...GLYNN...DUVAL...FLAGLER...NASSAU...ST JOHNS. A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND TO FLAGLER BEACH OUT TO 60 NM... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAX. SANDRIK
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 3:15 AM EST, 45 minutes before
FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-201300- NORTHEAST FLORIDA/SOUTHEAST GEORGIA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 315 AM EST TUE MAR 20 2001 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTH FLORIDA...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS THROUGH 8 AM EST... THREAT FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE MORNING AS LARGE SCALE RISING AIR AND A LOW LEVEL WARM AIR FLOW OUT OF APALACHEE BAY DESTABILIZE THE REGION. THIS IS COUPLED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE CENTER...INCREASING DEEP LAYER WIND SHEAR AND LOCALLY-ENHANCED LOW LEVEL SHEAR NEAR A WARM FRONT. THE CURRENT SETUP APPEARS FAVORABLE FOR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. A THREAT WILL ALSO EXIST FOR EMBEDDED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG COLD FRONT SQUALL LINE NOW THE FLORIDA BIG BEND. TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO 1 INCH AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED IN THE WATCH AREA. ADDITIONALLY...A HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ATLANTIC COAST FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA TO FLAGLER BEACH FLORIDA. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL AREAS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... CAMDEN...GLYNN...DUVAL...FLAGLER...NASSAU...ST JOHNS. A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND TO FLAGLER BEACH OUT TO 60 NM... FO R ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAX.
The radar
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:59 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flood in South Carolina, March 20, 2001
- Flood in South Carolina, March 20, 2001
- High Wind in Georgia, March 20, 2001
- High Wind in North Carolina, March 20, 2001
- Flash Flooding in North Carolina, March 20 to 21, 2001
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in North Carolina, March 20 to 21, 2001
- Winter Storm in Tennessee, March 20 to 21, 2001
- Damaging Winds in Florida, March 20, 2001
- High Wind in South Carolina, March 20, 2001
- Heavy Snow in North Carolina, March 20, 2001
- High Wind in North Carolina, March 20 to 21, 2001
- Heavy Snow in Alabama, March 20, 2001
More
Every storm in Florida in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2001
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: 5234027.