A strong storm system tracked across the deep south while the mid and upper level low moved over the Mississippi River Valley. A surface low developed over south Georgia in the afternoon, and a trailing squall line moved across the area in the afternoon and evening.
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 strong storm system tracked across the deep south while the mid and upper level low moved over the Mississippi River Valley. A surface low developed over south Georgia in the afternoon, and a trailing squall line moved across the area in the afternoon and evening. Strong low level shear, including a 50 to 60 knot low level jet, combined with adequate instability to produce widespread severe storms across the area.
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 Jan 20, 2:35 PM EST, 5 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
235 PM EST WED JAN 20 2010
...BREEZY WITH STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY...
.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-SAT)...
TONIGHT...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE AREA QUICKLY MOVES OFFSHORE TONIGHT
SETTING UP A GOOD RETURN FLOW OF MOISTURE AS WINDS QUICKLY VEER TO
THE SOUTH. STRONG ISENTROPIC LIFT AND SHORT WAVE WILL HELP PRODUCE
NUMEROUS SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED STORMS MOST LIKELY BY AFTER MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT AND INTO THE MORNING. MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED
FROM AROUND THE I-10 CORRIDOR NORTH. INSTABILITY WILL BE LACKING AT
THAT TIME AND EXPECTING MAINLY WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WITH A COUPLE OF
ELEVATED STORMS POSSIBLE.
THURSDAY...A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE NE ACROSS THE
MISS AND EXTREME WESTERN TENN VALLEY AND A SECONDARY LOW
IS FORECAST TO FORM ALONG THE CAROLINAS BY LATE IN THE DAY.
AN MCS IS EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING ALONG THE GULF COAST EARLY
IN THE MORNING AND MOVE TOWARDS THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON.
MAIN CONCERN IS THERE MAY BE ENOUGH SFC BASED INSTABILITY TO COMBINE
WITH THE IMPRESSIVE JET DYNAMICS TO PRODUCE SEVERE WX ACROSS THE
AREA IN THE FORM OF DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES AND SPC
HAS OUR AREA UNDER A SLGT RISK OF SEVERE WX. SW WINDS WILL INCREASE
AS GRADIENT TIGHTENS AND MAY HAVE WIND GUSTS TO 30-35 MPH OR
EVEN HIGHER ACROSS NE FL WHICH MAY PROMPT A LAKE WIND ADVISORY.
WILL MENTION GUSTY WINDS IN THE GRIDS FOR NOW WHICH MAY BE UPGRADED
AS SITUATION EVOLVES BUT POSSIBLE SEVERE WX HAS BEEN ADDRESSED
IN THE HWO.
THE STRONG CLOSED UPPER LOW WILL PASS BY N OR THE AREA THU NIGHT.
THE SQUALL LINE WILL SLOWLY WEAKEN AND BECOME MORE ORIENTED E TO W
ACRS THE SOUTHERN ZONES DURING THE EVENING WITH STRONG WINDS AND
HEAVY RAINS STILL POSSIBLE. BY FRIDAY MORNING ONLY THE FAR SOUTH
PORTION WILL HAVE LINGERING RAIN CHANCES...THEN SKIES WILL GRADUALLY
CLEAR FRI AFTERNOON. TEMPS WILL BE A LITTLE COOLER OVER SE GA...IN
THE MID 60S...BUT A WLY FLOW OVER NE FL WILL BRING MID 70S.
PROGRESSIVE WEATHER PATTERN EXPECTED FOR THE WEEKEND WITH A RIDGE
ALOFT BUILDING OVER THE ERN U.S. FROM FL TO THE GREAT LAKES ON
SATURDAY. A BRIEF COOL-DOWN WILL OCCUR WITH MIN TEMPS SAT MORNING IN
THE 40S. A SFC RIDGE ALONG THE EAST COAST WILL BRING NELY WINDS AND
PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TO THE REGION KEEPING SE GA AND NE FL COAST IN
THE 60S...BUT SW PORTION WILL REACH LOWER 70S.
.LONG TERM (SUN-WED)...THE NEXT COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING BRINGING A
GOOD CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. THE JET DYNAMICS LOOK IMPRESSIVE
AGAIN BUT INSTABILITY MORE LIMITED THAN PREVIOUS SYSTEM. COULD STILL
HAVE A FEW STRONG STORMS. DRY SLOT MOVES THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON
AND NIGHT FOLLOWED BY PARTLY CLOUDY AND MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS
TUES-WED AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. TEMPS BELOW CLIMO
NEXT WEEK BUT STILL NO WIDESPREAD SUB-FREEZING TEMPS EXPECTED.
&&
.AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST THIS TAF CYCLE FOR ALL BUT
KSSI AS WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS FORECAST TO STALL NEAR THE SITE
LATE TONIGHT...WITH LIKELIHOOD OF MVFR CEILINGS AND POSSIBLY EVEN
LOWER CEILINGS. A FEW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT WITH SHOWER
ACTIVITY INCREASING ON THURSDAY...ESPECIALLY BY MIDDAY.
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD HOLD OFF UNTIL AFTER 18Z THURSDAY. SOUTHERLY
WINDS TONIGHT SHOULD LIMIT FOG DEVELOPMENT TO POCKETS (IF ANY).
&&
.MARINE...ALTHOUGH CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY QUIET ACROSS THE
LOCAL WATERS...CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO DETERIORATE ON THURSDAY.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. HAVE
EXPANDED SCA TO INCLUDE THE SE GA OFFSHORE WATERS...WITH SCA NOW
IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE OFFSHORE WATERS BEGINNING LATE THURSDAY
MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL BE BELOW 15 MPH
TO START OFF THE WEEKEND...SEAS WILL BE INCREASING DUE TO LONG FETCH
OF NORTHEAST WINDS ESTABLISHING OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. SCA
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BEGINNING SUNDAY WITH APPROACH OF AN EVEN
STRONGER FRONTAL SYSTEM.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 52 68 52 67 / 70 80 30 0
SSI 55 67 56 67 / 70 80 40 0
JAX 52 74 56 71 / 50 80 40 10
SGJ 56 76 61 71 / 40 60 50 10
GNV 51 75 57 71 / 40 70 50 10
OCF 53 77 59 72 / 30 60 60 20
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THURSDAY TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY 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.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM NOON THURSDAY TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY FOR
ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM
OFFSHORE.
&&
PP/ECZ/SPHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 455 PM EST WED JAN 20 2010 FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-211100- 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- 455 PM EST WED JAN 20 2010 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT... ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT...MAINLY ALONG AN NORTH OF THE I-10 CORRIDOR...AS SEVERAL DISTURBANCES ADVANCE ACROSS THE AREA. GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE ALTAMAHA RIVER AT BAXLEY IS FORECAST TO REACH FLOOD STAGE TODAY...WITH MINOR FLOODING EXPECTED INTO NEXT WEEK. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY... THE INTERACTION OF INCREASING MOISTURE...DAYTIME HEATING AND AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL PROVIDE FAVORABLE INGREDIENTS FOR STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY...ESPECIALLY FROM LATE MORNING TO EARLY EVENING. THE MAIN CONCERNS WILL BE STRONG AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND HAIL...ALTHOUGH INCREASING WIND SHEAR WILL ALSO PROMOTE ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES. INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED IN THE MORNING...WITH INCREASING ACTIVITY IN THE AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SQUALL LINE TO ADVANCE EAST ACROSS THE AREA IN THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...STORM SPOTTER GROUPS...AND OTHER INTERESTED CONCERNS SHOULD MONITOR THIS SITUATION AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER BECOME IMMINENT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY EVENING AS ANOTHER COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED ON THURSDAY. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV/JAX. ECZ/SEC
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:10 UTC.
22 thunderstorm wind, 5 flood, 4 tornado, 3 heavy rain, 3 funnel cloud, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A cooperative observer measured 4.4 inches of rainfall in 24 hours in Federal Point.
Large trees were blown down near 94th Street and Highway 49 east of Live Oak.
Several trees were blown down along Highway 90 east of Wellborn.
Central dispatch reported property damage and numerous trees blown down at a residence off of Palm Road. Strong winds damaged a pump house and a water softener. The damage was estimated at one thousand dollars.
A mobile home was flipped over and trees were broken. A shed was destroyed on Southwest Tustenuggee Avenue east of Columbia City.
An EF0 briefly touched down along County Road 121, and winds were estimated around 80 mph. There was significant damage to a mobile home. The cost of damage was unknown.
An EF0 (wind estimated around 80 mph) briefly touched town in Callahan. Semi-tractor trailers were overturned and in trees. The time was based on radar.
An EF1 tornado touched down around 1322 pm EST in Bradford county. The path width varied from 200 to 400 yards, and the path length was around 9 to possibly 10 miles. Numerous outbuildings were damaged and destroyed. There was mostly minor damage to substantial structures. At least a dozen homes were damaged along County Road 229. There were 25 homes that suffered minor damage and 28 that had major damage. A total of 23 houses were destroyed. The emergency manager estimated $2.5 to $3 million dollars in damages to homes and about $500,000 in damages to out buildings. The tornado traveled just north of due east and lifted in western Clay County were the path may have gone over the Camp Blanding National Guard Auxiliary.
Power lines and trees were blown down about 3 miles west-northwest of Starke on County Road 225. The power line damage was near 19276 Northwest 63rd Place.
An EF1 tornado touched down around 1322 pm EST in Bradford County and continued for a brief period as an EF0 event in Clay County. The path width varied from 200 to 400 yards, and the total path length was around 10 miles. The storm was only present in a small portion of Clay County and entered the Camp Blanding National Guard Facility.
Large tree limbs were blown down near Fort George Island. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
Large tree limbs were blown down near Fort George Island. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
Screens on a home were damage along Highway 301 in Lawtey. The top of a maple tree was damaged.
A power line was snapped near Sharron Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
A funnel cloud was spotted southwest of Doctor's Inlet, near Middleburg.
Trees were uprooted along State Road 13, about 3 miles north of Orangedale. The time of the event was based on radar.
Trees were blown down in Penny Farms.
A tree was blown down on a truck on the 2100 block of Mallard Road. The drive had some minor injuries.
About 15 trees were uprooted or snapped off from County Road 315C to Colonial Drive.
Golf ball size hail was reported on Haven Avenue in Green Cove Springs.
A large tree and power lines were blown down across Oakridge Avenue south between Julia and Elsie Streets.
Power lines were blown down per Clay Electric. The time of the event was based on radar.
A tree was blown down along State Road 13 along County Road 208.
Water flowing over a roadway along State Road 18 near Southwest 115th Court caused a car to drive off the road into a ditch where law enforcement and EMS performed a water rescue of a stranded person under water. The person was not injured.
Two construction workers were blown off of an overpass. Both men suffered minor injuries.
A funnel cloud was reported over the water east of the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
The law enforcement reported a tree down on Hernando Drive. The time of the event was based on radar.
Numerous large limbs were blown down. Wind gusts were estimated around 60 mph.
Three inches of rainfall occurred in one hour northeast of Keystone Heights.
A spotter reported pine trees blown down and a power line blown down along State Road 13, north of State Road 16.
Four inches of rainfall fell in 3 hours. Minor street flooding was observed. The emergency manager relayed storm total rainfall reports of 4 to 5 inches across west and northeast Palm Coast.
Alligator Creek overflowed in Starke and caused extensive flooding in Starke. At least one home was damaged due to the creek water. Doppler radar estimated 4 to 5 inches of rainfall within 24 hours in the area.
The county EM received numerous reports of 6 plus inches of rainfall in Southern Columbia county between Ichetucknee Springs State Park and Oleno State Park. Some county roads were briefly impassable. Portions of State Roads 47 and 247 were flooded. At least 5 sinkholes were reported.
Water was reported inside a Subway restaurant in Fort White. Numerous roads were closed in town. A spotter measured storm total rainfall amounts of 6.9 inches in 24 hours.
Power lines were blown down near 18th Street in East Palatka. The time of the event was based on radar.
Flooded roads caused a school bus to partially slide off of the road and into a retention ditch near First Federal Bank off of State Road 207 in Hastings. One child was on the bus and there were no injuries.
Trees and power lines were blown down near 4101 Southeast 26th Court Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2010Warnings in Florida, January 2010
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: 203654, 203657, 203658, 203660, 203661, 203804, 203805, 203656, 203662, 218823, 203663, 203664, 203665, 203666, 203826, 203671, 203674, 203685, 203690, 203651, 203697, 203708, 203713, 203574, 203715, 203576, 203673, 203716, 203652, 203667, 203653, 203575, 203577, 203578, 203718, 203648, 203649, 203802.