A storm system moved into the Great Lakes region with trailing frontal boundary advancing into the Jacksonville area. A strong low level jet was aligned across the area generating gusty southwesterly low level winds.
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 storm system moved into the Great Lakes region with trailing frontal boundary advancing into the Jacksonville area. A strong low level jet was aligned across the area generating gusty southwesterly low level winds. Those southwesterly winds maintained humid conditions with dew-points climbing into the upper 60s and lower 70s and destabilizing the atmosphere. The combination of warm/muggy conditions supported strong thunderstorm development along frontal boundary. Although upper dynamics were limited...the presence of a low level jet created favorable conditions for pulse strong to severe thunderstorms. A brief mesocyclone spun up in a thunderstorm over Wayne County, Georgia producing an EF-1 tornado which destroyed a mobile home and injured one individual. The tornado touched down near Gardi, Wayne County, Georgia, other damage occurred in Appling and Coffee Counties.
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 Dec 9, 9:45 AM EST, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
945 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009
...ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TODAY WITH BREEZY TO
LOCALLY WINDY CONDITIONS...
.SHORT TERM...COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE NW.
BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED TSTMS CONTINUES TO WEAKEN AND
BECOME MORE E/W ORIENTED AS INDIVIDUAL STORMS MOVE RAPIDLY ENE.
ATMOSPHERE OVER NE FL AND EXTREME SE CONTINUES FAIRLY STABLE WITH
CAPES 200-500 J/KG AND CINS OF 50 TO 120 J/KG. WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR UPSTREAM CONVECTION AS IT APPROACHES OUR W ZONES. FURTHER
DESTABILIZATION MAY OCCUR IN THIS AREA WITH SOME BREAKS IN CLOUD
COVER.
WINDS HAVE BEGUN MIXING TO THE SFC OVER THE AREA WITH GUSTS TO
AROUND 25 MPH SO FAR. MAY BE A NARROW WINDOW OF LAKE WIND CRITERIA
AS GRADIENT WEAKENS LATER THIS AFTERNOON...BUT WILL LET THE ADVISORY
STAND. MAY BACK OFF ON POPS ABOUT 10 PERCENT IN THE GRID/ZFP UPDATE.
OTHERWISE...LITTLE CHANGE EXPECTED.
&&
.AVIATION...IN AND OUT MVFR CIGS WILL CONTINUE THRU THE REMAINDER OF
THE MORNING SO A FEW UPDATES MAY BE NEEDED SHORTLY. WILL CONTINUE
VCTS FOR NOW AS REDEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN ISOLATED TSTMS IS NOT A
CERTAINTY THIS AFTERNOON.
&&
.MARINE...FORECAST APPEARS TO BE ON TRACK WITH CAUTION CRITERIA NEAR
SHORE AND ADVISORY CRITERIA OFFSHORE. FEW CHANGES ARE EXPECTED.
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 3 PM THIS
AFTERNOON FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-BRADFORD-CLAY-DUVAL-FLAGLER-
MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS-UNION.
GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 3 PM THIS
AFTERNOON FOR BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-COASTAL CAMDEN-COASTAL
GLYNN-INLAND CAMDEN-INLAND GLYNN-WAYNE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING FOR ALTAMAHA
SOUND GA TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE.
&&
CARROLL/WOLF/PRESNALLHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1024 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-101100- 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- 1024 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TODAY... ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT... UNSEASONABLY WARM AND MOIST CONDITIONS IN ADVANCE OF A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. STORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THIS MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON...THEN ACROSS NORTHEAST FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS WHICH WOULD BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR MUCH OF THE AREA DUE TO WINDY SOUTHWEST FLOW WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS NEAR 15 TO 20 MPH... AND GUSTS UP TO 30 TO 35 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY PLUMMET THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH A LIGHT FREEZE POSSIBLE FOR PORTIONS OF INTERIOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AS WELL AS AREAS OF FROST. FROST MAY FORM ALONG THE I-10 CORRIDOR ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS SEVERAL WEATHER SYSTEMS ARE FORECAST AFFECT THE GULF COAST REGION. MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST FOR A PORTION OF THE ALTAMAHA RIVER. PLEASE REFER TO THE RIVER FLOOD WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA TODAY. 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
835 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009
GAZ132-133-091415-
COFFEE-JEFF DAVIS-
835 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN COFFEE
AND JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS VALID UNTIL 915 AM EST...
AT 834 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF SNIPESVILLE...OR
16 MILES NORTH OF BROXTON. INDIVIDUAL STORMS ARE MOVING EAST AT
50 MPH WHILE THE LINE IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THESE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS AROUND PRIDGEN...BROXTON...
SNIPESVILLE...HAZLEHURST AND DENTON THROUGH 915 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS
OF 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR WIND DAMAGE.
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LAT...LON 3193 8243 3183 8252 3162 8268 3153 8307
3154 8308 3160 8307 3167 8300 3177 8301
3179 8298 3179 8287 3192 8268 3192 8264
3194 8260
TIME...MOT...LOC 1334Z 299DEG 14KT 3185 8289
CARROLLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
907 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009
GAZ133-135-091445-
APPLING-JEFF DAVIS-
907 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN APPLING
AND NORTHEASTERN JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS VALID UNTIL 945
AM EST...
AT 905 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
BAND OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEASTERN JEFF DAVIS
COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT AT 45 MPH. THIS BAND OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND GRAHAM AND PLANT HATCH
THROUGH 945 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS OF 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH
POSSIBLE MINOR WIND DAMAGE.
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LAT...LON 3196 8242 3195 8241 3196 8238 3194 8234
3195 8228 3191 8221 3190 8211 3187 8210
3183 8205 3181 8261 3196 8252 3195 8250
3197 8250
TIME...MOT...LOC 1405Z 262DEG 40KT 3187 8252
WOLFSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1229 PM EST WED DEC 9 2009
GAZ132-134-149-091800-
ATKINSON-BACON-COFFEE-
1229 PM EST WED DEC 9 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN
ATKINSON...SOUTHERN COFFEE AND BACON COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND
FUNNEL CLOUDS VALID UNTIL 100 PM EST...
AT 1228 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WEST GREEN...OR 9
MILES EAST OF DOUGLAS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STRONG
THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WEST GREEN...NICHOLLS...
DOUGLAS...ALMA AND NEW LACY THROUGH 100 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.
ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM...WITH POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS...WAS MOVING OVER SOUTHWESTERN COFFEE AND
NORTHWESTERN ATKINSON COUNTIES...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LAT...LON 3167 8256 3167 8252 3169 8251 3170 8249
3166 8244 3151 8234 3146 8249 3146 8262
3142 8262 3129 8305 3133 8307 3136 8311
3147 8316
TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 256DEG 33KT 3156 8269SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 101 PM EST WED DEC 9 2009 GAZ132-134-149-150-091845- ATKINSON-BACON-COFFEE-WARE- 101 PM EST WED DEC 9 2009 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHEASTERN ATKINSON...NORTHWESTERN WARE...SOUTHEASTERN COFFEE AND WESTERN BACON COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS VALID UNTIL 145 PM EST... AT 101 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 11 MILES WEST OF BICKLEY...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DOUGLAS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND NICHOLLS...BICKLEY AND ALMA THROUGH 145 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. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. LAT...LON 3137 8241 3132 8285 3147 8287 3163 8242 TIME...MOT...LOC 1801Z 250DEG 34KT 3141 8278
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
102 PM EST WED DEC 9 2009
GAZ135-136-091845-
APPLING-WAYNE-
102 PM EST WED DEC 9 2009
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHWESTERN WAYNE
AND CENTRAL APPLING COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND FUNNEL CLOUDS VALID
UNTIL 145 PM EST...
AT 102 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 6 MILES SOUTH OF BAXLEY...MOVING EAST AT
40 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND
BAXLEY...SURRENCY AND ODUM THROUGH 145 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.
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LAT...LON 3183 8205 3183 8202 3161 8184 3163 8236
3165 8243 3175 8249 3187 8210
TIME...MOT...LOC 1802Z 250DEG 34KT 3168 8231The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency Management reported some trees and power lines down along State Road 32 west of Nicholls.
The Emergency Manager reported a power line and a few tree tops blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF1 touchdown near 632 Longford Road. At that location trees were overturned and snapped, a swimming pool cage was destroyed and a shed was flipped over onto its side. Winds here were estimated to be 90 mph or EF-1 velocity. The vortex then moved northeast over a wooded area and lake snapping trees. This area was not assessable; however, damage appeared to be in the EF-1 range. The storm then moved over Bethlehem Road downing and snapping trees and power lines. A school bus was also tossed into a ditch near Bethlehem Road and Fender Drive with no injuries and no students onboard. The funnel then struck a shed and mobile home destroying both with debris thrown approximately one quarter mile into the woods. The occupant of the mobile home was tossed from the structure with minor injuries and winds in this area were estimated at 110 mph or strong EF-1 status. The system them moved through a wooded area again snapping trees and crossed Grantham Road near Kicklighter Drive again snapping trees and power lines. Winds were estimated near 90 mph in this area and the vortex lifted off the ground at this point.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2009Warnings in Georgia, December 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: 199159, 199160, 198812.