Florida, 2003

Damaging Wind in Florida, May 18, 2003

May 18, 2003 · NWS JAX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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 May 18, 2:00 PM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:00 PM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
300 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

PUBLIC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WHOLE CWA UNTIL
8 PM. AS UPPER LOW DROPS SOUTH TO THE GULF...IMPRESSIVE UPPER
DIVERGENT PATTERN COUPLED WITH IMPRESSIVE INSTABILITY PARAMETERS
TO RESULT IN A GOOD CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS THIS EVENING.
MAIN CONCERN WILL BE PULSE TYPE SEVERE. GOOD AREA OF CONVERGENCE
BETWEEN HIGHWAY 301 AND I-75 WHERE MOST STORMS ARE FIRING UP.
HIGHEST POPS WILL BE ACROSS THIS AREA (50 TO 60 PCT) THIS EVE.
A FEW STORMS MAY LINGER OVERNITE ACROSS INLAND GA. MONDAY...SIMILAR
PATTERN AS TODAY WITH UPPER LOW ENTERING GULF AND STRONG UPPER
DIVERGENT PATTERN AND GOOD LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHEAST.
HIGHEST POPS INLAND (60 PCT) AND SLIGHTLY LOWER TOWARDS THE COAST.
TUESDAY...HAVE LEANED TOWARDS ETA MODEL WHICH KEEPS WEDGE JUST NORTH
OF THE AREA...BUT MOIST SE FLOW RESULTING IN A CHC POPS MOST AREAS.
WEDNESDAY...COLD APPROACHES FROM THE NW RESULTING IN A CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

EXTENDED...AS AN UPPER TROUGH DIGS SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO
THE GULF OF MEXICO...FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE CWA
THURSDAY AND STALLS OVER NORTH FLORIDA FRIDAY. MRF DEVELOPS WAVE
ALONG FRONT WHICH MAY ENHANCE PRECIP. NOT SURE TO BUY INTO THAT THIS
EARLY...HOWEVER WITH FRONTAL SYSTEM IN THE AREA...WILL GO WITH A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. AS AN
UPPER LOW CLOSES OFF IN THE EASTERN U.S. DURING THE WEEKEND THE COLD
FRONT PUSHES THROUGH WITH DRIER AIR MOVING IN. HAVE GONE WITH LOW
POPS FOR SATURDAY AND A 10 PERCENT POP (SILENT) FOR SUNDAY.

MARINE...NO HEADLINES.

FIRE WX...NO CONCERNS.

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

AMG 68 86 66 80 / 60 60 20 50
SSI 71 82 71 79 / 40 50 20 30
JAX 70 86 70 80 / 40 50 20 50
SGJ 72 84 73 80 / 30 40 20 40
GNV 69 90 68 85 / 30 50 30 50
OCF 69 92 68 87 / 30 40 20 50

.JAX...
FL...NONE.
GA...NONE.

PP/JH
Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 12:49 PM EST, 3 hours 31 minutes before
FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-190000-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
149 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

UPDATED TO INCLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 413

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM...

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES ABOVE NORMAL...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 413 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS
EVENING. THIS WATCH INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM COMBINED WITH THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY AND A
COLD FRONT JUST TO THE NORTH WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS ALL OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. THE BEST CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM NEAR THE
HIGHWAY 301 CORRIDOR WEST TO THE I-75 CORRIDOR. STORMS MAY BECOME
SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING THE MAIN CONCERNS.

THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL.
PLEASE REFER TO THE SURF ZONE FORECAST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TOMORROW THROUGH SATURDAY...
A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
INCREASING THE CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AT THIS TIME.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAX.

PP/HESS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:38 PM EST, 42 minutes before
FLZ023-030-031-182145-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
438 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BRADFORD...UNION AND BAKER
COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM...

AT 438 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT 4 MILES WEST OF DUKES...OR
ABOUT 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF WORTHINGTON SPRINGS...BUILDING NORTH AND
MOVING AROUND 5 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO
AFFECT AREAS AROUND DUKES...NEW RIVER...LAKE
BUTLER...JOHNSTOWN...STARKE...RAIFORD...OLUSTEE AND ELLERBEE THROUGH
545 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE
EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TAKE SHELTER IF LIGHTNING
IS IN YOUR AREA.

BROYLES
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:40 PM EST, 40 minutes before
GAZ150-182115-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
440 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING WARE COUNTY
THROUGH 515 PM...

AT 440 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 11 MILES SOUTH OF NEEDHAM...OR ABOUT 11
MILES SOUTHEAST OF ARGYLE...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STRONG
THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WAYCROSS...WARESBORO...
SUNNYSIDE...NEEDHAM AND DEENWOOD THROUGH 515 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE
HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY
WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR
DAMAGE.

TRABERT
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:44 PM EST, 36 minutes before
FLZ021-182145-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
444 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN SUWANNEE COUNTY...

AT 444 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIVE
OAK...OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SUWANNEE RIVER STATE
PARK...NEARLY STATIONARY. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND NEWBURN...LIVE OAK AND HOUSTON THROUGH 545
PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE
EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TAKE SHELTER IF LIGHTNING
IS IN YOUR AREA.

BROYLES
Local storm report, May 18, 4:02 PM EST, 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE, FL
502 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0315 PM    WAYCROSS                  GA   WIND DAMAGE
05/18/03   WARE                           SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN
                                          IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS
                                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT

0425 PM    5 N LAKE CITY             FL   2.00 INCH HAIL
05/18/03   COLUMBIA                       HAIL COVERING THE GROUND
                                          REPORTED BY SKYWARN SPOTTER

PP
Special weather statement, May 18, 4:13 PM EST, 7 minutes before
GAZ132-149-182145-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
513 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING ATKINSON AND
COFFEE COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM...

AT 513 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 11 MILES SOUTH OF DOUGLAS...OR ABOUT 3
MILES NORTH OF PEARSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STRONG
THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND DOUGLAS...NICHOLLS AND
WEST GREEN THROUGH 545 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN
DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45
TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE.

TRABERT
Local storm report, May 18, 4:20 PM EST, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE, FL
520 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0500 PM    WEST LAKE                 FL   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/03   HAMILTON                       REPORTED BY SKYWARN
                                          SPOTTER

PP

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When
May 18, 4:20 PM EST
Where
Hamilton County, Jasper
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
30.517, -82.950

Large trees and power lines down near Highways 41 and 129.

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

More

Every storm in Florida in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2003

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: 5354935.