Tornado in Florida, September 7, 2004

Name: Tornado in Florida, September 7, 2004
Start: 2004-09-07T12:40
End: 2004-09-07T12:40
Location: Florida

September 7, 2004 · NWS JAX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Hurricane "Frances"NWS storm survey and St. John's County EMA determined that a F0 tornado caused damage to homes just east of interstate 95 and south of state road 16.

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: $50,000
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 happened

The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.

Hurricane "Frances"NWS storm survey and St. John's County EMA determined that a F0 tornado caused damage to homes just east of interstate 95 and south of state road 16. The location is just a couple miles west of St. Augustine city limits.

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 Sep 7, 8:45 AM EST, 3 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 7, 8:45 AM EST, 3 hours 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
945 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH FRANCES MOVING ACROSS AREA PRODUCING
FLOODING RAINFALL AND ISOLATED FUNNEL CLOUD/TORNADOES.  THIS THREAT
WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AS BANDS MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD AND
HELICITY VALUES REMAIN HIGH.  WILL CONTINUE WITH CURRENT FORECAST
WITH MINOR CHANGES TO TEMPS/POPS.

MARINE...STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS IN 25 TO 30 KNOT RANGE CONTINUE WITH
OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO AROUND 35 KNOTS.  WILL CONTINUE SCA WITH MENTION
OF GALE FORCE GUSTS.  SEAS HAVE BEEN HOLDING STEADY AROUND 10 FEET

WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...FLOOD WATCH ALL AREAS EXCEPT ST JOHNS AND FLAGLER.
     HIGH SURF ADVISORY FERNANDINA BCH TO FLAGLER BCH.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FERNANDINA BCH TO FLAGLER BCH
     OUT 60 NM.
     LAKE WIND ADVISORY ALL AREAS.
GA...FLOOD WATCH ALL AREAS.
     HIGH SURF ADVISORY ALTAMAHA TO FERNANDINA BCH.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY ALTAMAHA TO FERNANDINA BCH
     OUT 60 NM.
     LAKE WIND ADVISORY ALL AREAS.
&&

MZ/ARS

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 7, 11:10 AM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1210 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-081000-
ALACHUA-APPLING-ATKINSON-BACON-BAKER-BRADFORD-BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-CLAY-
CLINCH-COASTAL CAMDEN-COASTAL GLYNN-COFFEE-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-ECHOLS-
FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-HAMILTON-INLAND CAMDEN-INLAND GLYNN-JEFF DAVIS-
MARION-NASSAU-PIERCE-PUTNAM-ST. JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION-WARE-WAYNE-
1210 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

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

...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON...

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT...

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT...

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY THIS AFTERNOON...

TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES WAS MOVING SLOWLY NORTHWARD ACROSS
EASTERN ALABAMA...AND WESTERN GEORGIA. NARROW OUTER RAINBANDS WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE LOCAL REGION THIS AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE
CONTINUED RISK OF FLOODING...SEVERE STORMS...AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
ISOLATED TORNADOES. AFTERNOON HEATING IS EXPECTED TO ENHANCE THE
POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

SOME OF AREA RIVERS WILL GO INTO FLOOD STAGE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
SEE THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
OTHERWISE...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED MAINLY IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO SELF ACTIVATE IF ANY WARNINGS ARE ISSUED
IN THEIR AREA. IN ADDITION...PLEASE RELAY ANY REPORTS OF FLOODING TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND LOCAL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

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

PP/ARS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 10:10 AM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1110 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

FLZ025-033-071600-
DUVAL FL-ST. JOHNS FL-
1110 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ST. JOHNS AND
DUVAL COUNTIES FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS VALID UNTIL NOON EDT...

AT 1110 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
MANDARIN...OR ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF FRUIT COVE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS
AROUND MANDARIN...BAYARD...UNF...PALM VALLEY...PONTE VEDRA BEACH...
JACKSONVILLE BEACH...SAN PABLO AND NEPTUNE BEACH THROUGH NOON EDT.
GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR
WIND DAMAGE.

REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 1-800-499-1594.

PETERSON

Local storm report, Sep 7, 10:36 AM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1136 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1040 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     5 E JACKSONVILLE INTERN 30.48N 81.62W
09/07/2004                   DUVAL              FL   OTHER FEDERAL

            OCCASIONAL FUNNEL CLOUDS

1050 AM     TORNADO          INTERLACHEN             29.62N 81.90W
09/07/2004                   PUTNAM             FL   PUBLIC

            TREE DAMAGE. EVENT TIME ESTIMATED.

&&

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 10:42 AM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1142 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

FLZ037-040-071630-
MARION FL-PUTNAM FL-
1142 AM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MARION AND PUTNAM
COUNTIES FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS VALID UNTIL 1230 PM EDT...

AT 1142 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OCALA AIRPORT...OR
ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RAINBOW LAKES ESTATES...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 35 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND
OCALA AIRPORT...OCALA...LOWELL...REDDICK...ANTHONY...SPARR...CITRA
AND FORT MCCOY THROUGH 1230 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN
BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR WIND DAMAGE.

REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 1-800-499-1594.

PETERSON

Local storm report, Sep 7, 10:58 AM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1158 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1155 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     DURBIN                  30.09N 81.46W
09/07/2004                   ST. JOHNS          FL   PUBLIC

&&

Special weather statement, Sep 7, 11:34 AM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1234 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

FLZ025-032-037-040-071715-

CLAY FL-DUVAL FL-MARION FL-PUTNAM FL-
1234 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
CLAY...MARION...DUVAL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORM
WINDS UNTIL 115 PM EDT...

AT 1234 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
8 MILES WEST OF JACKSONVILLE HEIGHTS TO 4 MILES NORTH OF SILVER
SPRINGS SHORES...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES WEST OF
ORANGE PARK TO 6 MILES WEST OF LYNNE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND
SILVER SPRINGS SHORES...PUTNAM HALL...LYNNE...JOHNSON...BURBANK...
ORANGE SPRINGS...MIDDLEBURG AND FORT MCCOY THROUGH 115 PM EDT. GUSTY
WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR WIND
DAMAGE. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND
MINOR FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS.

REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 1-800-499-1594.

ZIBURA

Local storm report, Sep 7, 11:42 AM EST, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1242 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     TORNADO          DURBIN                  30.09N 81.46W
09/07/2004                   ST. JOHNS          FL   PUBLIC

            SHINGLES BLOWN OFF ROOF. 1 TREE DOWN.

&&

The radar

The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, St. Johns

When: September 7, 12:40 PM EST
Where: St. Johns County, 2 mi W of St Augustine
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 0.2 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 29.880, -81.350

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Florida, 2004 Warnings in Florida, September 2004

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: 5420840.