A squall line with severe weather and several tornadoes moved across north Florida and southeast Georgia.
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 squall line with severe weather and several tornadoes moved across north Florida and southeast Georgia.
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 Mar 7, 9:21 AM EST, 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
921 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008
.UPDATE...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ARE PUSHING THRU THE LOCAL AREA
THIS MORNING WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR ZONES UNDER A TORNADO WATCH.
STRONG SLY WINDS ARE GUSTING TO 25-35 MPH IN ADVANCE OF THE
STORMS. STRONGEST STORMS OVER THE SUWANNEE VALLEY ARE BEING
MONITORED FOR ROTATION. LAPS HELICITIES ARE ABOVE 500 IN THIS
REGION. SATELLITE ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES ARE AVERAGING 1.5
INCHES AN HOUR. RADAR ESTIMATES ARE NEAR 2 INCHES AN HOUR NEAR
LIVE OAK AND HAVE ISSUED AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY
FOR THE WRN ZONES. CURSORY LOOK AT GRIDS SHOWS UPDATES ARE NOT
NECESSARY.
&&
.AVIATION...STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
AFTERNOON. A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA
LATE THIS MORNING AND AN AIRPORT WARNING MAY BE ISSUED.
&&
.MARINE...SCA CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING AT SAUF1 AND MAY NEED TO
ISSUE ANOTHER MWW TO EXPAND THE SCA.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 71 47 54 30 / 100 70 10 0
SSI 69 50 58 35 / 100 80 20 0
JAX 75 52 59 32 / 100 80 20 0
SGJ 78 53 63 36 / 80 80 20 0
GNV 76 53 60 32 / 80 80 20 0
OCF 79 55 62 31 / 80 80 20 0
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR BAKER-COLUMBIA-GILCHRIST-
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY FOR ALACHUA-
BAKER-BRADFORD-CLAY-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST-
HAMILTON-MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-UNION.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-BRADFORD-CLAY-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-FLAGLER-
GILCHRIST-HAMILTON-MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE-
UNION.
GA...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT 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 SATURDAY 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.
GALE WARNING FROM 6 AM TO 4 PM EST SATURDAY 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 FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 PM EST
SATURDAY 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.
&&
TRABERT/ENYEDI/SANDRIK/KERNSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 445 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-080940- 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- 445 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...TORNADO WATCH 104 IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EAST FOR MUCH OF NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT... ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE SUWANNEE RIVER VALLEY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... A SQUALL LINE WILL CONTINUE EASTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THIS MORNING WITH STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SEGMENTS AND A FEW SUPERCELLS THUNDERSTORMS. ISOLATED SUPERCELLS THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE. LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR REMAINS EXTREME UNDER A 70 KT SOUTHWESTERLY LOW LEVEL JET STREAM AND INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WITH SOME MODEST HEATING THIS MORNING. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT...THOUGH TORNADO THREAT MAY BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED LATER THIS MORNING. THE LINE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH A POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 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. GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS MAY REACH UP TO 25 TO 30 MPH OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED OVER THE AREA AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF NEAR 3 TO 4 INCHES IN HEAVIER BANDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE SUWANNEE RIVER VALLEY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA. SOME AREA RIVERS ARE NEAR OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AND SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED IF HEAVY RAINFALL DOES OCCUR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... ...GUSTY WEST WINDS ON SATURDAY... ...GALE WARNING FOR OFFSHORE COASTAL WATERS ON SATURDAY... VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE FROM EARLY SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 40 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. A WIND ADVISORY MAY EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED FOR ALL OR PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. ON SUNDAY MORNING...A LIGHT FREEZE AND PATCHY FROST ARE POSSIBLE WITH LOWS NEAR 30 DEGREES TO THE MID 30S NEAR THE COAST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED TODAY. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/JAX. SANDRIK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 708 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 FLZ020-021-GAZ162-071300- ECHOLS-HAMILTON-SUWANNEE- 708 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN SUWANNEE...HAMILTON AND ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 800 AM EST... AT 708 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 22 MILES WEST OF BLUE SPRINGS TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF SUWANNEE RIVER STATE PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND SUWANNEE RIVER STATE PARK...SUWANNEE SPRINGS...BLUE SPRINGS...WEST LAKE...JASPER...JENNINGS AND STATENVILLE THROUGH 800 AM 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. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ENYEDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 723 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 FLZ020-022-GAZ150-162-163-071300- CLINCH-COLUMBIA-ECHOLS-HAMILTON-WARE- 723 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN COLUMBIA...EASTERN HAMILTON...SOUTHEASTERN CLINCH...SOUTHERN WARE AND SOUTHEASTERN ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 800 AM EST... AT 723 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 3 MILES NORTH OF BELMONT...OR 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FARGO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND BELMONT...NEEDMORE AND FARGO THROUGH 800 AM 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. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ENYEDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 810 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 FLZ020-GAZ162-163-071400- CLINCH-ECHOLS-HAMILTON- 810 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN HAMILTON...CENTRAL CLINCH AND CENTRAL ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS VALID UNTIL 900 AM EST... AT 810 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 25 MILES SOUTH OF DU PONT...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF JASPER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND DU PONT AND HOMERVILLE THROUGH 900 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS OF 35 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. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ENYEDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 836 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 GAZ136-152-153-164-165-071415- BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-INLAND CAMDEN-INLAND GLYNN-WAYNE- 836 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHEASTERN CHARLTON...BRANTLEY...SOUTHERN WAYNE...NORTHWESTERN CAMDEN AND WESTERN GLYNN COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL VALID UNTIL 915 AM EST... AT 836 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF RACE POND...OR 10 MILES SOUTH OF HOBOKEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WINOKUR...RACE POND... TARBORO...HICKOX...RAYBON...NAHUNTA...WAVERLY...HORTENSE...ATKINSON AND WAYNESVILLE THROUGH 915 AM EST. 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 TORNADO WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SANDRIK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 854 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 FLZ021-071430- SUWANNEE- 854 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SUWANNEE COUNTY FOR STRONG WINDS VALID UNTIL 930 AM EST... AT 854 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LURAVILLE...OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PERRY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF LAFAYETTE COUINTY AND IF THE STORM MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT INTENSITY A WARNING MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF SUWANNEE COUNTY SOMETOIEM BEFORE 930 A. EST. THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A TORNADO THUNDERSTORM WATCH. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. SANDRIK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 920 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 FLZ022-035-036-071500- ALACHUA-COLUMBIA-GILCHRIST- 920 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN ALACHUA...SOUTHWESTERN COLUMBIA AND GILCHRIST COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS VALID UNTIL 1000 AM EST... AT 920 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 8 MILES WEST OF TRENTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND TRENTON...BELL...NEWBERRY...HIGH SPRINGS...OLENO STATE PARK... ALACHUA...LA CROSSE...GAINESVILLE AIRPORT AND GAINESVILLE THROUGH 1000 AM 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. ENYEDI
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 4 inch diameter tree was blown down on the Laura Walker Golf Course. The time of event was estimated by radar.
A total of 5 houses were damaged with one house sustaining major structural damage. Possible tornado induced damage was along State Road 185 near Mile Marker 2. Numerous power lines were reported down in southern Charlton County. The mesocyclone which dropped this tornado was tracked through Columbia and Baker Counties in Florida and spanned several tornadoes there. The mesocyclone also moved into western Nassau County Florida with a brief touchdown there.
Wayne County Emergency Management reported a 200 yard wide and one half mile long tornado track crossing Post Road and Boones Branch Road south of Mount Pleasant. Hundreds of trees were snapped by the event with the Road Department sent to clear the roadways. Several garages were damaged with the tornado path transiting between several homes.
Five public reports of a tornado received by Emergency Management nine miles west of Waynesville at Turkey Ridge. There was damage to at least one home.
A local utility company reported several trees down on power lines west of Interstate 95. The times were estimated by radar.
Former National Weather Service employee reported a waterspout and tornado over the intra-coastal waterway and marshes between Kings Bay Submarine Base and Cumberland Island Georgia. The mesocyclone which spawned this tornado was tracked across north Florida and southeast Georgia from Taylor County through Lake City to near Cumberland Island.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2008Warnings in Georgia, March 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: 74655, 74564, 74686, 74657, 74658, 74608.