A moist southerly flow developed over north Florida and southeast Georgia as several convective complexes developed ahead of cold front and upper level trough over the Florida Panhandle. A southwesterly low level jet advected deep moisture off the Gulf of Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.
A moist southerly flow developed over north Florida and southeast Georgia as several convective complexes developed ahead of cold front and upper level trough over the Florida Panhandle. A southwesterly low level jet advected deep moisture off the Gulf of Mexico. This when combined with significant upper level divergence associated with right rear quadrant of the upper jet provided strong large scale lift to support severe convection.
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 Apr 5, 8:46 AM EST, 3 hours 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
946 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008
...CHANCE OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE STORMS TODAY...
.UPDATE...SFC DATA SHOWS COLD FRONT FROM NRN GA TO EXTREME SE LA
WHERE A 1007 MB LOW IS LOCATED. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS PLENTY
OF DEEP LAYER MOISTURE E OF A MID AND UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE
SE STATES WITH SCT STRONG CONVECTION OVER THE NRN GULF OF MEXICO
INTO THE WRN FL PANHANDLE TO SE LA AND MS/AL AND GA. SCT
CONVECTION GOT AN EARLY START ACROSS THE CWA OVER SE GA AND
PORTIONS OF OUR INLAND N FL ZONES. CONVECTION HAS DECREASED IN
INTENSITY SINCE SUNRISE. OTHERWISE...VIS IMAGERY SHOWS CLOUDS
THINNING OVER THE SE ZONES WHERE GOOD INSOLATION WILL PUSH HIGHS
INTO THE LOWER 80S...POSSIBLY MID 80S IN A FEW PLACES. APPROACH OF
SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND SFC INSTABILITY WILL HELP FIRE UP ADDITIONAL
SHOWERS AND STORMS THROUGH THE DAY WITH LOW LEVEL JET AND 30-40 KT
SHEAR ENABLING SOME STORMS TO BECOME STRONG AND SEVERE AT TIMES.
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL LIKELY DUE TO TRAINING CELLS AND GOOD
DIFFLUENCE AT 250 MB. SFC CAPE MAY RISE TO NEAR 3000-3500 J IN A FEW
SPOTS. FOR THE ZONE UPDATE...NOT MUCH CHANGE ANTICIPATED WITH JUST
SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO TEMPS AND POPS. AROUND UPPER 70S SE GA
AND LOWER 80S NE FL. POPS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM CATEGORICAL
INLAND SE GA TO LIKELY OVER THE S ZONES. SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND
15-20 MPH EXPECTED WITH GUSTS TO AT LEAST 25 TO 30 MPH AT TIMES IN
NE FL...BUT PROBABLY STAYING JUST SHY OF LAKE WIND ADVISORY
CRITERIA.
&&
.AVIATION...MVFR CIGS OCCURRING AT THIS TIME WITH SLY FLOW
INCREASING TO NEAR 15G20KT. ANTICIPATED CIGS BECOMING VFR AT
TIMES BY AROUND NOON-1 PM AS BOUNDARY LAYER MIXING CONTINUES. ONE
EXCEPTION MAY BE IN SE GA WHERE CIGS MAY PREVAIL AT MVFR. SHOWERS
AND STORMS MAINLY FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.
&&
.MARINE...WINDS ARE SLY AROUND 15-20 KT PER BUOYS WITH SEAS
UPWARDS OF 7 FT TOWARD THE OUTER WATERS. NO REAL CHANGES EXPECTED
FOR THE CWF.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 80 60 80 59 / 80 60 20 10
SSI 77 66 76 63 / 60 70 40 20
JAX 82 65 81 63 / 60 70 40 30
SGJ 83 66 78 65 / 60 70 40 40
GNV 83 64 82 62 / 60 70 40 50
OCF 84 65 82 63 / 50 70 50 60
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALTAMAHA
SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE.
&&
SHASHY/ENYEDI/WALKERHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1141 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-061000- ALACHUA-APPLING-ATKINSON-BACON-BAKER-BRADFORD-BRANTLEY- CAMDEN (COASTAL)-CAMDEN (INLAND)-CHARLTON-CLAY-CLINCH-COFFEE- COLUMBIA-DUVAL-ECHOLS-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-GLYNN (COASTAL)- GLYNN (INLAND)-HAMILTON-JEFF DAVIS-MARION-NASSAU-PIERCE-PUTNAM- ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION-WARE-WAYNE- 1141 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA THROUGH 7 PM... ...A MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK CONTINUES FOR AREA BEACHES... STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING WITH THE APPROACH OF AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND SURFACE COLD FRONT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE SUWANNEE RIVER VALLEY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE NORTHEAST AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH. STORMS WILL ADVANCE EAST TOWARD THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC COAST LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS. LINGERING OCEAN SWELLS WILL MAINTAIN A MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK FOR AREA BEACHES. PLEASE REFER TO THE SURF ZONE FORECAST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED SUNDAY AND MONDAY MAINLY OVER NORTHEAST FLORIDA. LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE STRONGER STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED TODAY AND THIS EVENING. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/JAX. ENYEDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1055 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 GAZ136-051545- WAYNE- 1055 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WAYNE COUNTY FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 1145 AM EDT... AT 1055 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 2 MILES NORTH OF SCREVEN...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JESUP...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND SCREVEN...BROADHURST... ODUM...GARDI...JESUP AND DOCTORTOWN THROUGH 1145 AM 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. 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. ENYEDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1119 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 FLZ020>023-GAZ162-163-051600- BAKER-CLINCH-COLUMBIA-ECHOLS-HAMILTON-SUWANNEE- 1119 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN SUWANNEE...EXTREME NORTHWESTERN BAKER...NORTHERN COLUMBIA... HAMILTON...SOUTHEASTERN CLINCH AND SOUTHEASTERN ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL NOON EDT... AT 1119 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF BELMONT TO 4 MILES SOUTH OF LIVE OAK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND SUWANNEE SPRINGS...LIVE OAK...JASPER...HOUSTON...WELLBORN... NEEDMORE...BELMONT...WINFIELD...SUWANNEE VALLEY AND FARGO THROUGH NOON EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR 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. ENYEDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1203 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 FLZ020>022-051645- COLUMBIA-HAMILTON-SUWANNEE- 1203 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SUWANNEE... NORTHERN COLUMBIA AND EASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 1245 PM EDT... AT 1203 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LURAVILLE...OR 6 MILES EAST OF MAYO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS AROUND OBRIEN...LURAVILLE... BRANFORD...MCALPIN...LIVE OAK...HOUSTON...WELLBORN...SUWANNEE SPRINGS...WINFIELD AND SUWANNEE VALLEY THROUGH 1245 PM EDT. ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE 3 MILES NORTH OF WHITE SPRINGS AND 2 MILES NORTH OF JASPER MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. SMALL HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SHASHY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1236 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 GAZ150-164-051715- CHARLTON-WARE- 1236 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CHARLTON AND SOUTHEASTERN WARE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL VALID UNTIL 115 PM EDT... AT 1236 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTH OF RACE POND TO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOMELAND TO 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FOLKSTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WINOKUR AND FOLKSTON THROUGH 115 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SHULER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1245 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 FLZ020>023-051730- BAKER-COLUMBIA-HAMILTON-SUWANNEE- 1245 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHEASTERN SUWANNEE...WESTERN BAKER...COLUMBIA AND SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 130 PM EDT... AT 1245 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BELMONT...OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF WHITE SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS AROUND SUWANNEE VALLEY AND BELMONT THROUGH 130 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER EASTERN SUWANNEE AND EASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH...AND THESE MAY PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTING AND SMALL HAIL AS WELL. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SHASHY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 102 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 GAZ132-134>136-149>152-163-164-051800- APPLING-ATKINSON-BACON-BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-CLINCH-COFFEE-PIERCE-WARE- WAYNE- 102 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN CHARLTON...NORTHERN CLINCH...BRANTLEY...SOUTHEASTERN ATKINSON... WARE...PIERCE...SOUTHEASTERN COFFEE...WAYNE...APPLING AND BACON COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 200 PM EDT... AT 102 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF BAXLEY TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF MILLWOOD TO 17 MILES WEST OF DU PONT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND PEARSON...NICHOLLS...BICKLEY...BAXLEY... AXSON...ALMA...MILLWOOD...SURRENCY...NEW LACY AND DIXIE UNION THROUGH 200 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND MINOR FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ENYEDI
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Three trees were blown down at the intersection of State Road 100 and County Road with one tree down on a power line.
The Marion County 911 Center reported downed trees along Highway 475 and Southeast 110th Street southwest of Belleview.
The Marion County Sheriffs Office received reports of trees down in Belleview.
Lightning struck two homes and ignited two brush fires in central Nassau County.
Trees down along River Street.
The fire department reported a tree down between Glen St Mary and MacClenny.
A Post Office employee reported a large tree fell on their house.
Suwannee County fire rescue received reports of trees blown down in Wellborn.
Numerous trees were blown down in the Wellborn area.
A funnel cloud was reported in the Fanning Springs area. No damage was reported.
Trees and power lines were blown down in the vicinity of Trenton.
Trees and power lines were blown down in the vicinity of Newberry.
The public reported damage to the roof and siding of a house in the Stone Gate sub divison.
Damage reported to trees along State Road 24.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2008
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: 84515, 84516, 84518, 84521, 84577, 84584, 84522, 84524, 84526, 84529, 84531, 84532, 84534, 84590.