A small but fairly potent bow echo moved across portions of northwest Florida during the morning hours of August 10th and blew down several trees. It is fairly unusual to see bow echoes moving through this part of the country in the middle of summer during the morning hours.
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 TAE wrote it up.
A small but fairly potent bow echo moved across portions of northwest Florida during the morning hours of August 10th and blew down several trees. It is fairly unusual to see bow echoes moving through this part of the country in the middle of summer during the morning hours.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 10, 6:54 AM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 754 AM EDT Fri Aug 10 2012 .NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]... Yet another early start to convection this morning, and as a result we may see things play out in a similar fashion to the past couple days. This would necessitate an increase in PoPs - mainly in the morning hours - and that is what we have done with the forecast early this morning. Most prominent arc of convection extends from Liberty Co. WSW to near KPAM and then W to about 20NM offshore of KDTS. General motion is to the ENE so PoPs were bumped to 70-90% in the areas currently being affected as well as the downstream corridor to the ENE in the 12-18z timeframe. The early start to the storms may once again limit the diurnal temperature range, and the temperature curve will be reassessed in an hour or so once convective trends become more established. If we get enough convective overturning in the morning hours, things may be too stable in the afternoon for widespread thunderstorm coverage, so PoPs were preliminarily cut back to 30-50% from 18-00z. && .SHORT TERM [Saturday Through Sunday]... The presence of above features will keep scattered convection across CWA at least into the late eve. Additional shortwave energy digging SEWD into base of upper trough will help sharpen it into Saturday. This will drag front SEWD to reach Cntrl Ga and S/Cntrl AL with pre-frontal trough bisecting our CWA. So expect another wet day with even better chance of strong to isold severe storms and continued threat of flooding. Then, axis will shift eastward but with low drifting NWD and the front stalling by Sat eve, so expect a smaller amplitude along with slowly decreasing POPs. Then, noticeably lower POPs on Sunday with drier NWLY mid level air and increasing subsidence beginning to impact our wrn areas by Sat eve from W-E. Expect 50-20% nw-se POP gradient tonight, 40-60% w-e pops on sat, 10-30% w-e sat night and 20-30% w-e pops on sun. with decreasing clouds max temps will rise a degree or two each day into the low-mid 90s on Sunday. && .LONG TERM [Sunday Night through Thursday]... The overall mid/upper level pattern continues to show troughing over the eastern third of the CONUS. However, the trough is forecast to be less amplified than what we've seen this past week. We may even see a brief period of nearly zonal flow late Wednesday into Thursday. At the surface, high pressure will ridge westward across the Gulf from the Atlantic with the axis staying south of the local area. Time height cross sections show the mid level dry air that filtered in on Sunday remaining over the region through Tuesday before deep layer moisture returns once again. The lower levels will remain moist with the resulting west to southwest flow. This pattern will favor near to slightly below seasonal PoPs Monday and Tuesday and near to above seasonal PoPs for the rest of the work week. Max temps will be near to above average for the entire extended period. && .AVIATION [Beginning 12Z Friday]... Scattered showers may impact the TLH..DHN and ECP terminals this morning with some IFR and MVR possible. Otherwise, another day with scattered to numerous convection with all sites receiving a tempo group beginning either late morning or early afternoon. Winds will be from the southwest around 10 knots this afternoon. On Saturday the best chance for thunderstorms will be in the afternoon with IFR and MVFR possible at all sites after 16z. && .MARINE... Winds will be out of the WSW around 10 knots and seas will generally be 2 to 3 feet with some possible 4 foot seas in the offshore waters west of Panama City. These seas are mainly left over swell from Ernesto and should diminish after Saturday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Abundant low level moisture along with scattered to numerous daily showers and thunderstorms will offset any fire weather concerns at least into next week. && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AL...None. GM...None. && NEAR TERM...Lamers/Barry SHORT TERM...Block LONG TERM...Barry AVIATION...Bolden/Barry MARINE...Block FIRE WEATHER...Barry
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 755 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012 ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134- GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-GMZ730-750-755-765-770-775-110815- COFFEE-DALE-HENRY-GENEVA-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-CENTRAL WALTON- HOLMES-WASHINGTON-JACKSON-INLAND BAY-CALHOUN-INLAND GULF- INLAND FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON-INLAND JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY- INLAND WAKULLA-INLAND TAYLOR-LAFAYETTE-INLAND DIXIE-SOUTH WALTON- COASTAL BAY-COASTAL GULF-COASTAL FRANKLIN-COASTAL JEFFERSON- COASTAL WAKULLA-COASTAL TAYLOR-COASTAL DIXIE-QUITMAN-CLAY- RANDOLPH-TERRELL-DOUGHERTY-LEE-WORTH-TURNER-TIFT-BEN HILL-IRWIN- EARLY-MILLER-BAKER-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-BERRIEN-SEMINOLE- DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER- APALACHEE BAY OR COASTAL WATERS FROM KEATON BEACH TO OCHLOCKONEE RIVER FL OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM OCHLOCKONEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO KEATON BEACH OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 755 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012 /655 AM CDT FRI AUG 10 2012/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA... SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE...AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... FAIRLY WIDSEPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS MORNING ACROSS THE AREA...WITH A DIMINISHING TREND THIS AFTERNOON. MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS MAY DEVELOP LATER TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WEST. THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN RATES...AND IF THESE PERSIST FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME OVER CITIES OR URBANIZED LOCATIONS...THEN SOME ISOLATED FLOODING COULD DEVELOP. OTHERWISE GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE THE MAIN THREATS. THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE PANHANDLE BEACHES ALONG BAY...GULF...AND WALTON COUNTIES...AND A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ON SATURDAY WITH DECREASING CHANCES AND A MORE LIKELY RETURN TO A DRIER PATTERN SUNDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE A RESUMPTION OF TYPICAL SUMMERTIME PATTERN DURING THE MID WEEK PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV...THEN CLICK ON YOUR AREA OF INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL MAP. 08/BLOCK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
729 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012
FLZ014-015-026-114-101215-
INLAND GULF FL-COASTAL GULF FL-INLAND FRANKLIN FL-LIBERTY FL-
729 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR FRANKLIN...GULF
AND LIBERTY COUNTIES...
* UNTIL 815 AM EDT /715 AM CDT/
AT 624 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETECTED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 17 MILES NORTHEAST OF MEXICO BEACH...OR NEAR
WEWAHITCHKA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY
REDUCE VISIBILITY AND CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
LAT...LON 2997 8536 3017 8535 3020 8523 3020 8512
3022 8511 3021 8510 3023 8508 3024 8508
3025 8508 3034 8478 2989 8491
TIME...MOT...LOC 1129Z 258DEG 21KT 3010 8515
08-LAMERSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
820 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012
FLZ017-027-101300-
LEON FL-INLAND WAKULLA FL-
820 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND
CENTRAL LEON AND FAR NORTHERN WAKULLA COUNTIES...
* UNTIL 900 AM EDT
AT 817 AM EDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETECTED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRAWFORDVILLE...OR NEAR BROWN
HOUSE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY
REDUCE VISIBILITY AND CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
LAT...LON 3038 8465 3044 8455 3045 8450 3046 8450
3045 8446 3047 8441 3054 8439 3063 8424
3038 8407 3037 8408 3021 8455
TIME...MOT...LOC 1220Z 248DEG 22KT 3034 8451
08-LAMERSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
856 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012
FLZ017-018-101345-
LEON FL-INLAND JEFFERSON FL-
856 AM EDT FRI AUG 10 2012
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN
JEFFERSON AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN LEON COUNTIES...
* UNTIL 945 AM EDT
AT 854 AM EDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETECTED A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR TALLAHASSEE...OR NEAR TOM BROWN PARK...MOVING EAST
AT 30 MPH.
WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. A WIND GUST TO 43
MPH WAS MEASURED AT THE FLORIDA STATE CAMPUS...AND A WIND GUST TO 38
MPH WAS MEASURED AT THE TALLAHASSEE AIRPORT.
THIS STORM IS ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH
MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY AND CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
LAT...LON 3047 8378 3036 8424 3049 8432 3067 8401
3066 8374
TIME...MOT...LOC 1256Z 248DEG 27KT 3045 8419
08-LAMERSThe Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:22 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down west of Lois. Monetary damage was estimated.
The Jefferson county 911 call center reported a tree down on Highway 90 just south of Lake Miccosukee. Monetary damage was estimated.
A tree was blown down on Bassett Road. Monetary damage was estimated.
A tree was blown down on Aucilla Road. Monetary damage was estimated.
Trees were blown down on Bailey Road. Monetary damage was estimated.
Trees were blown down blocking lanes of traffic on Highway 221 just south of the Georgia border. Monetary damage was estimated.
WMBB reported a large tree down in Springfield, approximately 20 inches in diameter. The tree also caused power lines to come down. Monetary damage was estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2012
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: 390491, 390492, 390493, 390494, 390495, 390496, 390497.