A cold front and squall line transited north Florida on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008.
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 cold front and squall line transited north Florida on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008.
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 Feb 26, 10:18 AM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1018 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008
...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
...FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED THURSDAY MORNING...
.UPDATE...SFC ANALYSIS INDICATES COLD FRONT FROM NRN GA TO SRN AL
AND MOVING OFF THE MOUTH OF THE MS RIVER. RADAR IMAGERY FAIRLY
IMPRESSIVE WITH SQUALL LINE FROM CENTRAL GA TO THE FL PANHANDLE.
STRONG KINEMATICS WITH A WSW LOW LEVEL JET OF ABOUT 55 KT ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE FL PANHANDLE...EXPECTED TO SHIFT EWD WITH LITTLE
CHANGE IN STRENGTH. CYCLONIC CURVED 300 MB UPPER LEVEL JET WILL
REMAIN JUST TO OUR N IN THE RANGE OF 130-140 KT. VIS IMAGERY
CONTINUES TO SHOW A LARGE AREA OF LOW CIGS AND AREA OF FOG ONLY
SLOWLY ERODING DUE TO RICH MOISTURE SEEN IN THE JAX SOUNDING BELOW
800 MB. EXPECT THAT BY 17Z/18Z WHEN MIXING WILL BE STRONGER THAT
MOST OF THE LOW CLOUDS WILL BE DISSIPATED. AT PRESENT TIME...LINE
WILL BE MOVING INTO THE CWA BY AROUND 17Z-19Z. ADDITIONAL
CONVECTION LIKELY TO BE FIRING AHEAD OF THE MAIN LINE AS IS SEEN
IN RECENT RADAR NEAR AND W OF TLH. MAIN THREAT LOOKS TO BE
DAMAGING WINDS ALTHOUGH WITH STEEP LAPSE RATES ALOFT AT 7C OR
BETTER SEVERE HAIL IS POSSIBLE. LOWER RISK OF ISOLATED TORNADOES
ON NRN EXTENT OF BOW ECHOES. FOR LAKE WIND ADVISORY...SO FAR A
FEW REPORTS SHOW WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH IN SE GA. SUSTAINED
WINDS EXPECTED TO REACH 20 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON. ONLY MINOR
CHANGES ANTICIPATED FOR THE ZONES.
&&
.AVIATION...IFR CONDS CONTINUE OVER THE AREA AND AGAIN IMPROVING
CONDS EXPECTED BY NOON WITH AT LEAST MVFR CIGS. LOW LEVEL WIND
SHEAR SHOULD BE DECREASING AS SFC WINDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
BASED ON RADAR TRENDS...MAY BE MOVING THE TIME WINDOW UP FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
&&
.MARINE...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES EXPECTED. CURRENT OBS INDICATE
12-15 KT BUT ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO SCA LEVELS AS COLD FRONT
TRANSLATES EWD.
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-
BRADFORD-CLAY-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-HAMILTON-
MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
AFTERNOON FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-BRADFORD-CLAY-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-
FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-HAMILTON-MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS-
SUWANNEE-UNION.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY FOR ALACHUA-
BAKER-BRADFORD-CLAY-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-
HAMILTON-MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION.
GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR APPLING-
ATKINSON-BACON-BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-CLINCH-COASTAL CAMDEN-
COASTAL GLYNN-COFFEE-ECHOLS-INLAND CAMDEN-INLAND GLYNN-JEFF
DAVIS-PIERCE-WARE-WAYNE.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR APPLING-ATKINSON-
BACON-BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-CLINCH-COASTAL CAMDEN-COASTAL GLYNN-
COFFEE-ECHOLS-INLAND CAMDEN-INLAND GLYNN-JEFF DAVIS-PIERCE-
WARE-WAYNE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY 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.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST WEDNESDAY FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND
GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM-FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST
AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM-ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT
20 NM.
&&
SHASHY/WALKERHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1140 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-262330- 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- 1140 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 80 IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA THROUGH 6 PM... ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TODAY... A PRE-FRONTAL SQUALL LINE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED WITH THE THREAT OF ISOLATED TORNADOES...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS... AND LARGE HAIL. BE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF HAZARDOUS WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION. MARINE INTERESTS OPERATING IN THE COASTAL WATERS...BE AWARE OF THE RISK OF HIGH WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS WITH THESE STORMS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE HARBOR. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL PRECEDE THE STRONG COLD FRONT...AND A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. WINDS GUSTING TO 30 TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY... ...WIDESPREAD FREEZE IS LIKELY THURSDAY MORNING... COLD AND DRY AIR WILL FILTER OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. THERE WILL BE AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER DUE TO BREEZY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. A WIDESPREAD FREEZE IS LIKELY THURSDAY MORNING AND POSSIBLY FRIDAY MORNING AS WELL. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY MORNING WITH MID 20S POSSIBLE OVER INLAND AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. PLEASE RELAY ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER 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 WEATHER.GOV/JAX. MKT/ARS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1127 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 GAZ150-162>164-261730- CHARLTON-CLINCH-ECHOLS-WARE- 1127 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN CHARLTON...SOUTHEASTERN CLINCH...SOUTHERN WARE AND SOUTHEASTERN ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS VALID UNTIL 1230 PM EST... AT 1127 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 9 MILES WEST OF NEEDMORE...OR 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF JASPER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND NEEDMORE...FARGO...STEVEN FOSTER STATE PARK...RACE POND...HOMELAND AND FOLKSTON THROUGH 1230 PM EST. GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM. TORNADOES MAY DEVELOP WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. IF FURTHER INTENSIFICATION OCCURS A WARNING MAY BE REQUIRED. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SANDRIK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1143 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 GAZ149-150-162-163-261730- ATKINSON-CLINCH-ECHOLS-WARE- 1143 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CLINCH... ATKINSON...NORTHERN WARE AND ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 1230 PM EST... AT 1140 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WEST OF THE ALERT AREA...CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTH OF WILLACOOCHEE TO 36 MILES WEST OF STATENVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA AFTER 12 NOON AND IF THEY INTENSIFY FURTHER... WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORM ARE 50 TO 60 MPH WINDS AND EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WOLF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1222 PM EST TUE FEB 26 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 PM TSTM WND DMG PEARSON 31.30N 82.85W
02/26/2008 ATKINSON GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN ON SUNNYSIDE CHURCH ROAD.
&&
JHESSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1237 PM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 FLZ024-GAZ165-166-261815- COASTAL CAMDEN-INLAND CAMDEN-NASSAU- 1237 PM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NASSAU AND CAMDEN COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS VALID UNTIL 115 PM EST... AT 1237 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF KINGS FERRY TO BRYCEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND HILLIARD... BRYCEVILLE...RATLIFF...KINGS FERRY...CALLAHAN...TARBORO...WOODBINE... COLESBURG...KINGSLAND AND YULEE THROUGH 115 PM EST. GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR WIND DAMAGE. IF FURTHER INTENSIFICATION OCCURS A WARNING MAY BE REQUIRED. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SANDRIK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1250 PM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 GAZ132-149-261830- ATKINSON-COFFEE- 1250 PM EST TUE FEB 26 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN ATKINSON AND COFFEE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 130 PM EST... AT 1250 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES WEST OF AMBROSE TO 13 MILES WEST OF WILLACOOCHEE...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND AMBROSE...WILLACOOCHEE...BROXTON...DOUGLAS...WEST GREEN AND NICHOLLS THROUGH 130 PM EST. 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. IF FURTHER INTENSIFICATION OCCURS A WARNING MAY BE REQUIRED. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. HESS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
32 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The Suwannee County Emergency Manager reports a tree across the road along County Road 249 near the Hamilton County line.
Three trees down at residence along Old Nassauville Road.
There are widespread reports of trees and power lines down over the county along with small hail.
Emergency management reported one female county employee indirectly struck by lightning while on the phone. EMS treated and released her.
Dime sized hail was reported by Emergency Management.
Fire Rescue/EMA squad reported witnessing a brief tornado touchdown near an accident scene which damaged several structures and the roof of a wahrehouse. The initial event time was corrected based on further report from Alachua County Emergency Management.
Emergency Management reports trees down in O'Brien and power out at Branford Elem. School.
Several reports of trees down across the Osceola National Forest. Event time is estimated based on radar imagery.
Power line down on Highway 208 (Picolata Road) and Cabbage Hammock Road.
AW portion of metal out building, under construction, was blown over at 44205 mcKendree Drive.
Several good sized trees were broken in half two miles east of Middle Road along Highway 108.
Fire Rescue dispatch reports a tree down on a house on South Nassau Street. Report time was adjusted based upon radar data as storms were well east of area at time report was recorded at 911 dispatch.
Fourteen reports of power lines and/or trees down from Fort White to just north of Lake City.
A home was damaged by fallen tree at Klondike and U.S. 90 near Hopkins Motors.
Fire Rescue Dispatch Center reports power lines down at 52 Coquina Ave in Saint Augustine. Report time adjusted based on radar data as storms were well east of the area when event was recorded at the Dispatch Center.
Public report of two trees down 2 miles southeast of the town of Hampton. Report time has been adjusted based upon radar data as no storms were near Hampton at time of public report.
A report of roof damage to a home one half mile south of Interstate 10 on Bill Davis Road. A trampoline in the yard also damaged. Several trees on County Road 229 were damaged.
Trees and power lines down in northern part of the county near County Road 138 and State Road 47.
Two trees uprooted on State Road 121 north of Raiford. Also there was debris in the road on State Road 238 near Raiford.
Hail and strong winds reported in downtown Jacksonville. Additionally a wire is down across Timuquana Road on the Jacksonville Westside near the Cedar River bridge.
Naval Air Station Jacksonville reported damage to street signs and trees associated with a wind gust measured at 58 miles an hour at 3:11 p.m EST. The report was relayed by Naval Air Station Jacksonville Weather Office.
Report from Naval Air Station Jacksonville ASOS.
Large limbs down on road in the Bolles School area along San Jose Blvd.
WTEV Chief Meteorologist reports a tree and wire down at 1800 Navajo Place in St Johns County.
Public report of a tree resting on a roof on Clair Burrows Road off San Jose road in Mandarin.
WTEV Chief Meteorologist reports two trees down on a building at 2950 Halcyon Lane south of Interstate 295.
Emergency Management reported trees down in Miccanopy with heavy rain and wind. Power crews are enroute to the area.
A trained storm spotter also reported a funnel cloud in the same location.
Emergency Management reports a tree down on a residence at 186 Florida Trail in Palatka.
Trees and power lines were reported down near Ocala and various points westward throughout Marion County.
Putnam County Dispatch Center reports the second story of a building destroyed at 220 Bates Ave, Palatka. The report was received at Dispatch at 1729 EST and the event time was adjusted to 1704 EST based upon radar data.
A large tree was reported down on a law enforcement officer's home.
Emergency Management reports power lines down at 139 Westhampton Drive, Palm Coast.
Power lines down on West County Road 90 near Daytona North. The time was adjusted based on radar data.
Emergency Management reports power lines down on roadway. The time was adjusted based upon radar data.
Emergency Management reports a tree down at 5415 North Oceanshore Blvd in Hammock. the time was adjusted based upon radar data.
Emergency Management reports trees and power lines down with fire rescue on the scene.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2008Warnings in Florida, February 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: 72401, 72402, 72403, 72405, 72555, 72406, 72409, 72410, 73102, 72412, 73106, 73107, 72413, 73103, 73104, 72415, 72417, 72430, 72419, 72429, 72432, 72433, 72434, 72435, 72436, 72437, 72438, 72439, 72440, 72441, 72442, 72444, 72446, 72448, 72449, 72450, 72452, 72453.