Georgia, 2003

Damaging Wind in Georgia, 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, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:00 PM EST, 3 hours 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, 4 hours 11 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

Local storm report, May 18, 4:20 PM EST, 40 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
Special weather statement, May 18, 4:25 PM EST, 35 minutes before
FLZ040-182230-

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

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN MARION COUNTY THROUGH
630 PM...

AT 525 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF JUNIPER SPRINGS...MOVING
SOUTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS AROUND
THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST THROUGH 630 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, 4:34 PM EST, 26 minutes before
FLZ020-022-182230-

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

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN HAMILTON AND NORTHERN
COLUMBIA COUNTY THROUGH 630 PM..

AT 534 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER HAMILTON COUNTY...OR ABOUT 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF SUWANNEE SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THESE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND STEPHEN FOSTER STATE
PARK AND WHITE SPRINGS THROUGH 630 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. THESE
AREA DANGEROUS STORMS...TAKE SHELTER IF LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR AREA.

BROYLES
Special weather statement, May 18, 4:48 PM EST, 12 minutes before
FLZ024-025-182230-

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

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWEST NASSAU AND WESTERN
DUVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM...

AT 548 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 6 MILES WEST OF BALDWIN...OR ABOUT
17 MILES NORTHEAST OF RAIFORD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THIS
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND
BALDWIN...BRYCEVILLE...ORTEGA...NORMANDY...RIVERSIDE...NASSAU
VILLAGE-RATLIFF AND CALLAHAN THROUGH 630 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, 4:57 PM EST, 3 minutes before
GAZ163-182230-

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

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN CLINCH COUNTY THROUGH
630 PM...

AT 557 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 3 MILES EAST OF FARGO...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 20 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND
FARGO THROUGH 630 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...
DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE.

HESS
Local storm report, May 18, 4:59 PM EST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE, FL
559 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003

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

0520 PM    JASPER                    FL   WIND DAMAGE
05/18/03   HAMILTON                       LARGE TREES DOWN AND
                                          POWERLINES DOWN NEAR
                                          HIGHWAY 41 AND 129.
                                          REPORTED BY 911.

0530 PM    TAYLOR                    FL   WIND DAMAGE
05/18/03   BAKER                          LARGE TREES DOWN REPORTED
                                          BY 911

PP

The radar

The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Charlton

When
May 18, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Charlton County, Folkston
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
30.833, -82.017

Numerous large tree limbs down.

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 Georgia in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, 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: 5354937.