A tropical wave across southwest Florida provided enhanced moisture and energy that enhanced widespread shower and thunderstorm activity across the area in the afternoon along both the east coast and west coast sea breezes. High moisture content and saturated soils elevated flooding concerns, and dry air advancing across the area from the east provided enough entrainment for a few strong wet…
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 tropical wave across southwest Florida provided enhanced moisture and energy that enhanced widespread shower and thunderstorm activity across the area in the afternoon along both the east coast and west coast sea breezes. High moisture content and saturated soils elevated flooding concerns, and dry air advancing across the area from the east provided enough entrainment for a few strong wet downbursts.
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 15, 8:51 AM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 951 AM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009 ...POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR FLOODING FROM VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ONCE AGAIN TODAY... .PUBLIC UPDATE...SURFACE TROUGH CURRENTLY EXTENDS NEAR THE STATE LINE. UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CURRENTLY EXTENDS FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO ACROSS THE BIG BEND REGION OF NORTH FLORIDA AND INTO SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WHILE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE CONTINUES TO SLOWLY BUILD IN FROM THE EAST. DEEP SOUTHERLY FLOW REGIME CONTINUES TO YIELD HIGH ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE WITH PWATS ABOVE 2 INCHES. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH DAYTIME HEATING...DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPARTING UPPER TROUGH...OLD SURFACE TROUGH AND SEA-BREEZE EFFECTS WILL AGAIN SET THE STAGE FOR SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS FOR TODAY WILL BE FREQUENT LIGHTNING AS TEMPERATURES ALOFT REMAIN FAIRLY COOL AS WELL AS HEAVY RAINFALL AS STEERING FLOW REMAINS LIGHT...WITH STORM MOTION GENERALLY TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST. ADDITIONALLY...SOME THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY WILL BECOME STRONG... ACCOMPANIED BY SMALL HAIL AS WELL AS WET MICRO-BURSTS AS POCKETS OF DRIER AIR ARE BEGINNING TO WORK INTO THE AREA FROM THE EAST. WITH EASTERLY WINDS PRESENTLY CONVERGING NEAR THE SURFACE...SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL LIKELY INITIATE BY LATE MORNING ACROSS OUR EASTERN ZONES...WITH EMPHASIS FARTHER INLAND AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. CLUSTERS OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL ALSO LIKELY INITIATE BY MIDDAY NEAR THE STATE LINE IN VICINITY OF AFOREMENTIONED SURFACE TROUGH. WRT ZFP...WILL REMOVE MORNING WORDING...OTHERWISE PACKAGE APPEARS ON TRACK. && .AVIATION...FOG DECKS AT KVQQ AND KGNV CONTINUE TO DISSOLVE AND ANTICIPATE FOG TO FULLY DISSIPATE BY 14Z. ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL LIKELY YIELD SOME MVFR CEILINGS AT TIMES FOR SEVERAL HOURS LATER THIS MORNING AS CU FIELD ESTABLISHES WITH DAYTIME HEATING. ADDITIONALLY...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND TSTMS ARE ANTICIPATED TODAY...LIKELY INITIATING ALONG THE EAST COAST BY 16Z. && .MARINE...NO HEADLINES. GENERALLY E WINDS WILL CONTINUE THRU THE PERIOD. BUMPED UP WINDS A BIT AT THE END OF THE FORECAST DUE TO POSSIBLE FRINGE EFFECTS FROM T.S. ANA. && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GA...NONE. AM...NONE. && .PREVIOUS PUBLIC...MSAS ANALYSIS SHOWS SURFACE TROUGH NOW EXTENDS FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH OUR OFFSHORE WATERS AND OFF THE COAST OF THE CAROLINAS. THIS POSITION IS SLIGHTLY SOUTHEAST OF OF MODEL INITIALIZATIONS BUT MOISTURE IN THE LOW LEVELS REMAINS PLENTIFUL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOUNDARY. OVERALL MOISTURE HAS INCREASED AS WELL AS RUC ANALYSIS DEPICTS IN THE UPPER LEVELS A RETROGRADING TROUGH AXIS AS STRONG MID LEVEL HIGH BUILDS TO THE EAST. LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY REMAINS POSSIBLE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD...BUT OVERALL CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE JUST MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SOME PATCHY FOG DEVELOPMENT. FOR TODAY...AS MENTIONED ABOVE...MOISTURE HAS INCREASED THROUGH THE GA PORTION AND WILL SEE PWATS IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES FOR MOST LOCATIONS. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE EASTERN SECTIONS WHERE DRIER AIR LOOKS TO WORK IN DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS IN RESPONSE TO BUILDING MID LEVEL RIDGE. IN ADDITION...THE EAST COAST SEABREEZE DEVELOPMENT ALONG WITH A DECIDEDLY MORE SOUTHERLY COMPONENT TO THE STEERING FLOW SHOULD RESULT IN INLAND AREAS BEING FAVORED FOR HIGHEST POPS THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SETUP...UNFORTUNATELY...ALSO FAVORS CONTINUED HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL WITH BOUNDARIES LIFTING NORTHWARD ALONG PROPAGATING SEABREEZE. IT DOES LOOK AS THOUGH STEERING FLOW WILL BE SLIGHTLY STRONGER...BUT WITH RECENT RAINFALL...ANY SHORT BURSTS OF CONVECTION COULD LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING. ALTHOUGH ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER SHOULD LIMIT INSTABILITY...500 TEMPS NEAR -8C WILL ALLOW FOR SCT STRONG STORMS THIS AFTERNOON WITH MAIN THREAT STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM PRECIP LOADING. AS FOR THE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER BETWEEN THE BAHAMAS AND CUBA...WILL LEAN HEAVILY ON THE GFS FOR THIS CYCLE AS IT HAS BEEN MORE CONSISTENT WITH THIS FEATURE AND THE NAM12 DOES A POOR JOB THIS RUN INITIALIZING THE WAVE. WILL THEREFORE SEE BEST MOISTURE SLIDE SOUTH OF THE REGION LATE THIS EVENING AND INTO SUNDAY. BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...INVERTED TROUGH DOES RIDE OF THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA WHICH IS CLOSER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS AND LIKELY SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN ANOTHER DAY OF LIKELY POPS FOR EXTREME WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. ALONG THE EAST COAST...DRIER AIR WORKING IN AT THE MID LEVELS SHOULD ALLOW POPS TO DECREASE INTO THE SCT RANGE. THIS TREND CONTINUES INTO MON WITH EVEN DEEPER LAYER DRYING NOTED WITH POPS DECREASING TO LOW END SCT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SHORT TERM. .LONG TERM...SURFACE RIDGE SLIDES SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE PERIOD WHILE MID LEVEL HIGH BUILDS OVERHEAD. SHOULD SEE BELOW CLIMO POPS IN GENERAL WITH TEMPS INCREASING...ESPECIALLY OVER INLAND PORTIONS. STILL MUCH TOO EARLY TO DECIPHER THE EVOLUTION OR PROGRESSION OF ANY TROPICAL SYSTEMS FOR OUR AREA AND WILL PLAY THE CURRENT FORECAST AS A TYPICAL DIURNAL PATTERN FOR NOW. && ECZ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 506 AM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-160915- HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY- ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-COFFEE- JEFF DAVIS-BACON-APPLING-WAYNE-ATKINSON-WARE-PIERCE-BRANTLEY- INLAND GLYNN-COASTAL GLYNN-ECHOLS-CLINCH-CHARLTON-INLAND CAMDEN- COASTAL CAMDEN- 506 AM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE TODAY WITH EXPECTED HEAVY RAINFALL... AN ACTIVE EAST COAST SEABREEZE THIS MORNING WILL GRADUALLY EVOLVE INTO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON FOR INLAND PORTIONS OF THE AREA. ALTHOUGH STORMS WILL MOVE SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN PREVIOUS DAYS...HEAVY RAINFALL REMAINS LIKELY. DUE TO RECENT DAYS RAINFALL TOTALS...MINOR FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE HEAVIER ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... DRIER AIR WORKING INTO THE AREA WILL RESULT IN ACTIVITY BECOMING MORE SCATTERED IN NATURE THROUGH NEXT WEEK. AN EASTERLY FLOW REGIME WILL FAVOR INLAND PORTIONS FOR THE HIGHEST THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/JAX. DEESE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 103 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009 GAZ136-151-152-151745- BRANTLEY-PIERCE-WAYNE- 103 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN BRANTLEY...NORTHEASTERN PIERCE AND SOUTHERN WAYNE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 145 PM EDT... AT 103 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 3 MILES NORTH OF RAYBON...OR 6 MILES NORTH OF NAHUNTA...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND RAYBON...HORTENSE... SCREVEN AND PATTERSON THROUGH 145 PM 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. LAT...LON 3139 8221 3155 8202 3131 8185 3122 8199 TIME...MOT...LOC 1703Z 143DEG 8KT 3130 8198 ZAPPE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
109 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
FLZ040-151800-
MARION-
109 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN MARION
COUNTY FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 200 PM
EDT...
AT 110 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 7 MILES EAST OF BURBANK...OR 6 MILES NORTH OF
LYNNE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND BURBANK...FORT MCCOY...ANTHONY...SPARR...
REDDICK...ORANGE SPRINGS AND CITRA THROUGH 200 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 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.
LAT...LON 2937 8222 2944 8212 2943 8209 2945 8205
2948 8205 2949 8203 2952 8193 2929 8177
2916 8198
TIME...MOT...LOC 1710Z 146DEG 14KT 2929 8190
ENYEDISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
116 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
FLZ023>025-GAZ164-151745-
BAKER-CHARLTON-DUVAL-NASSAU-
116 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHEASTERN
BAKER...SOUTHERN CHARLTON...WESTERN NASSAU AND WESTERN DUVAL COUNTIES
FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 145 PM EDT...
AT 116 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 3 MILES NORTH OF BRYCEVILLE...OR 11 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CALLAHAN...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. THESE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND BRYCEVILLE...HILLIARD AND
ST. GEORGE THROUGH 145 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING
AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 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.
LAT...LON 3030 8213 3057 8230 3056 8221 3061 8220
3073 8189 3041 8180
TIME...MOT...LOC 1716Z 165DEG 10KT 3043 8192
ENYEDISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
138 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
GAZ132-134-151830-
BACON-COFFEE-
138 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN COFFEE
AND WESTERN BACON COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING
VALID UNTIL 230 PM EDT...
AT 138 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTH OF
DOUGLAS TO NICHOLLS TO 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALMA...MOVING NORTH AT 5
MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND
NICHOLLS...DOUGLAS...ALMA...WEST GREEN AND BROXTON THROUGH 230 PM
EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 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.
LAT...LON 3162 8300 3167 8247 3144 8238 3143 8247
3147 8249 3146 8262 3142 8262 3140 8284
3140 8296 3142 8296 3142 8299
TIME...MOT...LOC 1738Z 160DEG 5KT 3145 8287 3152 8261
3149 8242
ENYEDISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
145 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
FLZ023-024-GAZ150-164-151830-
BAKER-CHARLTON-NASSAU-WARE-
145 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN BAKER...
SOUTHERN CHARLTON...SOUTHEASTERN WARE AND SOUTHWESTERN NASSAU
COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 230 PM
EDT...
AT 146 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ST. GEORGE TO 6
MILES SOUTHEAST OF TAYLOR...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 5 MPH. THESE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND ST. GEORGE AND TAYLOR
THROUGH 230 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY
WINDS OF 35 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.
LAT...LON 3058 8241 3061 8241 3061 8243 3063 8242
3079 8206 3043 8194 3025 8225 3052 8247
3058 8246
TIME...MOT...LOC 1746Z 140DEG 6KT 3050 8205 3036 8224
ENYEDISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
148 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
FLZ036-037-040-151830-
ALACHUA-MARION-PUTNAM-
148 PM EDT SAT AUG 15 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EASTERN ALACHUA...
NORTHERN MARION AND WESTERN PUTNAM COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND
EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 230 PM EDT...
AT 148 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF
HOG VALLEY TO GROVE PARK...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. THESE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND ROCHELLE...ORANGE
SPRINGS...LOCHLOOSA...HOG VALLEY...GROVE PARK...JOHNSON...NEWNANS
LAKE...WALDO...PUTNAM HALL AND ORANGE HEIGHTS THROUGH 230 PM EDT.
EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 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.
LAT...LON 2951 8223 2981 8227 2978 8209 2977 8208
2976 8208 2974 8205 2972 8204 2975 8198
2976 8194 2974 8181 2942 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1748Z 164DEG 9KT 2947 8176 2961 8215
ENYEDIThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An employee at a gas station near Highways 21 and 26 in downtown Melrose estimated wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. Power outages were also reported in the area. The time of the event was based on radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2009
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: 180226.