A deepening upper level trough over the southeast region lifted a deep plume of tropical moisture over the forecast area. A strong low level 850 mb jet of 50-55 knots was in place.
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 deepening upper level trough over the southeast region lifted a deep plume of tropical moisture over the forecast area. A strong low level 850 mb jet of 50-55 knots was in place. Backing winds advected instability inland from the Gulf of Mexico across north Florida which coincided with the passing of a second pre-frontal squall line as it tracked across north Florida and Southeast Georgia in the afternoon. Low level storm relative helicities increased to 200-350 M2/S2. Widespread severe storms developed across the forecast area during the afternoon.
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 Aug 13, 10:59 AM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1159 AM EDT WED AUG 13 2008
...TORNADO WATCH 825 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...
.PUBLIC...TORNADO WATCH 825 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT FOR SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA...ITS ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS...AND FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
FLORIDA. MYRIAD DISTURBANCES ALOFT CONTINUE TO TRAVERSE THE AREA...
DEEPENING THE SURFACE LOW CURRENTLY OVER GEORGIA. ACTIVITY IS
CURRENTLY IMPACTING OUR NORTHERN-MOST GEORGIA COUNTIES WITH BANDS OF
CONVECTION APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. KJAX/KTAE VAD WIND PROFILERS
INDICATE STRONG SPEED SHEAR...RANGING FROM 20 TO 25 KNOTS AT 1 KFT TO
40 KNOTS AT 4 KFT. THIS IS TEMPERED BY DEEP SOUTHWEST WINDS...
PROVIDING ANEMIC DIRECTIONAL SHEAR. AS AFOREMENTIONED SURFACE LOW
TRACKS EAST AND STRENGTHENS...LOWEST LEVEL WINDS MAY BACK ENOUGH TO
THE SOUTH TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS.
PER LATEST RADAR TRENDS...HAVE RESERVED CATEGORICAL POPS FOR OUR
NORTHERN-MOST COUNTIES...DECREASING TO SCATTERED POPS FOR OUR
SOUTHERN-MOST LOCALES. HAVE DROPPED LAKE WIND ADVISORY AS EXTENSIVE
CLOUDINESS SHOULD HINDER STRONG MIXING. NONETHELESS...WIND SPEEDS TO
NEAR 30 MPH WILL CERTAINLY BE POSSIBLE.
&&
.AVIATION...WILL LET LLWS EXPIRE AT 14Z AS SURFACE-BASED WINDS
WILL INCREASE. ALTHOUGH VFR CONDITIONS WILL DOMINATE...BANDS OF
CONVECTION WILL FREQUENT THE TERMINALS TODAY. MVFR CEILINGS/VSBYS
WILL ACCOMPANY THESE BANDS AS WELL AS POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS
DUE TO STRONG WINDS NOTED JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE. CONDITIONS ARE
FORECAST TO SLOWLY IMPROVE THIS EVENING AS SURFACE LOW PUSHES AWAY
WITH ATTENDANT SURFACE FRONTAL BOUNDARY CROSSING THE AREA.
TIMING/MOVEMENT OF THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS DIFFICULT AND MVFR
CEILINGS MAY PREVAIL THIS EVENING. WHOLESALE CHANGES MAY BE NEEDED
FOR TAF PERIOD AFTER 00Z.
&&
.MARINE...NO CHANGES IN HEADLINES. LATEST CHECK OF REGIONAL OBS
INDICATE WIND SPEEDS HAVE INCREASED TO AROUND 20 KNOTS WITH MAXIMUM
GUSTS TO NEAR 30 KNOTS NOTED. CONDITIONS WILL FURTHER DETERIORATE
AS SURFACE LOW OVER GEORGIA DEEPENS WHILE ADVANCING EAST...REACHING
THE ATLANTIC WATERS THIS EVENING.
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR FERNANDINA
BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-ST
AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE.
GALE WARNING UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND GA
TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ST AUGUSTINE TO
FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT 20 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND
GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM-FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST
AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM.
&&
ZAPPE//HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1114 AM EDT WED AUG 13 2008 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-141000- 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- 1114 AM EDT WED AUG 13 2008 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND THE ADJACENT SOUTHEAST GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS THROUGH 6 PM EDT... LOW PRESSURE OVER GEORGIA WILL TRACK EAST TODAY WITH A TRAILING COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE LOCAL FORECAST AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OFFSHORE THE SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC COAST TONIGHT. STRONG AND VEERING WINDS IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE COUPLED WITH MODERATE INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES AND STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THE RISK OF TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ELEVATED ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA...THE RISK OF TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ELEVATED MAINLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM GAINESVILLE TO JACKSONVILLE. STORMS WILL MOVE QUICKLY EAST NORTHEAST AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...STORM SPOTTER GROUPS...AND OTHER INTERESTED CONCERNS SHOULD MONITOR THIS SITUATION AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL BANDS OF CONVECTION MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TODAY WHICH MAY CREATE TRAINING STORM TRACKS. WIDESPREAD DAILY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... THE TRAILING SURFACE FRONT WILL BEGIN TO STALL ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA THURSDAY AND PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR NUMEROUS MAINLY AFTERNOON STORMS FROM GAINESVILLE TO ST. AUGUSTINE SOUTHWARD WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE. DRIER AIR WILL BEGIN TO FILTER OVER THE AREA FRIDAY AND SATURDAY... BUT STRONG DYNAMICS AND INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FEW STRONG STORMS THAT MAY PRODUCE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE EACH DAY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED TODAY. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/JAX. AE/ECZ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 108 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2008 FLZ020>023-GAZ150-163-131815- BAKER-CLINCH-COLUMBIA-HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-WARE- 108 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SUWANNEE... NORTHWESTERN BAKER...COLUMBIA...HAMILTON...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CLINCH AND SOUTHERN WARE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS VALID UNTIL 215 PM EDT... AT 108 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BLUE SPRINGS TO 22 MILES WEST OF LURAVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 54 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND BLUE SPRINGS...WEST LAKE...SUWANNEE RIVER STATE PARK...DOWLING PARK... NEWBURN...JASPER...LURAVILLE...SUWANNEE SPRINGS...LIVE OAK AND MCALPIN THROUGH 215 PM EDT. EXPECT OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 TO 55 MPH WITH POSSIBLE MINOR WIND DAMAGE. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. TRABERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 135 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2008 FLZ020-GAZ150-162>164-131815- CHARLTON-CLINCH-ECHOLS-HAMILTON-WARE- 135 PM EDT WED AUG 13 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN HAMILTON...WESTERN CHARLTON...SOUTHERN CLINCH...CENTRAL WARE AND ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 215 PM EDT... AT 135 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF JENNINGS...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND JENNINGS...STATENVILLE...NEEDMORE AND STEVEN FOSTER STATE PARK THROUGH 215 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. TRABERT
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter reported trees blown down between Jasper and Jennings. Most of the damage was near Highway 41 North and State Road 6. The time of the event was based on radar.
Winds estimated at 55 to 60 mph were rocking a spotters car at 1100 11th Street SW in Live Oak.
Trees were blown down along State Road six and near the Agricultural Station.
A spotter reported a large tree blown down on a house on Orange Street in Hilliard.
A weeping willow tree was uprooted at 10 Aviation Lane at the FAA Control Center in Hilliard.
A retired NWS Employee reported several tree tops were snapped near the Weigh Station along Interstate 95. The time of the event was based on radar.
Lightning struck a transformer at the corner of Atlantic and Monument Roads. The power lines caught fire and feel onto a car stopped at the traffic light. Two men rescued the driver of the car that was burning. A local gas station had to shut down their pumps due to the lightning fire. The victim did not suffer critical injuries.
A tree was uprooted and fell on a home on Blossom Ridge Drive North. The time of the event was based on radar.
Trees were blown down near Interstate 295 and Duval Road. Additional trees were blown down near Biscayne. The time of the event was based on radar.
The Jacksonville Port Authority reported two large 125 foot tall container ship cranes collapsed at Blount Island Marine Terminal. Each container was 950 tons. A squall line was moving across the area when the collapsed occurred. The KJAX Doppler radar indicated 45 to 50 knot velocities at approximately 600 feet msl. Each crane cost $6 million.
Numerous power lines were blown down across Eastern Duval county.
Numerous power lines were blown down in Newberry.
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, August 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: 133191, 133200, 133192, 133193, 133211, 133194, 133212, 133195, 133196, 133197, 133198, 133199.