Sea breeze storms sparked a few strong storms over NE Florida during the evening.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Sea breeze storms sparked a few strong storms over NE Florida during the evening.
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 23, 1:41 PM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 241 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 .NEAR TERM... ISOLATED TO SCT CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS...WITH POSSIBLE NMRS SHOWERS AND SCT TSTMS OVER INLAND SE GA BY 21Z-00Z AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH SHOWN BY NUMERICAL GUIDANCE MOVES THROUGH SE GA. TEMPS HAVE REACHED THE MID 80S OVER A SIZABLE PORTION OF THE AREA AND DEWPOINTS HAVE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN BY THE DEEPER MIXING AS NOTED BY SOME DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 50S TO NEAR 60 IN OVER A FEW NE FL ZONES. RECORD HIGH TEMP POSSIBLE AT ALMA WHERE CURRENT RECORD STANDS AT 85 DEG (FROM 2011). AN ISOLD STRONG STORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT BASED ON INSTABILITY OF 1500-2000J/KG...THROUGH ABOUT 8 PM THIS EVENING. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... ALTHOUGH MOST CONVECTION WILL DISSIPATE SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET...THE ARRIVAL OF MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE ENERGY IS EXPECTED TO KEEP SOME CONVECTION GOING THROUGH THE NIGHT. SHORT WAVE ENERGY IN ADDITION TO THE APPROACH OF A COLD FRONT WILL ACT TO INCREASE CONVECTION SATURDAY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY ACROSS SE GA WHERE THE BETTER DYNAMICS WILL BE FOCUSED. THIS UPPER LOW WILL SLOWLY MOVE SOUTHEAST OF THE REGION THROUGH SUNDAY...CONTINUING TO INSPIRE CONVECTION INTO SUNDAY MORNING. A DRIER...AND SLIGHTLY COOLER AIRMASS WILL THEN SETTLE IN FOR THE START OF THE WEEK. HAVE STAYED CLOSE TO THE MAV GUIDANCE FOR TEMPS THIS PERIOD. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL MOVE TOWARD THE EAST COAST TUESDAY NIGHT AND OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC ON WEDNESDAY. THE REGION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN DRY THROUGH MID WEEK...BUT WITH ONSHORE FLOW COULD NOT RULE OUT A FEW COASTAL SHOWERS WEDNESDAY. A TROUGH WILL SLIDE DOWN THE EAST COAST TOWARD THE REGION ON THURSDAY...WHICH COULD BRING A LITTLE BETTER CHANCE FOR SHOWERS...ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE ENERGY STAYS TO THE NORTHEAST. && .AVIATION... SCT-BKN CU NEAR 4-6 KFT EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTN WITH LOCAL AREAS OF MVFR VSBY/CIG IN SHOWER OR POSSIBLE TSRA. DUE TO GENERALLY RAIN CHANCE PROBS OF LESS THAN 50% AT TAF SITES...HAVE USED ONLY VCTS OR TEMPO GROUP. TAF WILL LIKELY NEED REFINING IF A HIGHER COVERAGE OF SHRA AND TSRA DEVELOP. MOST OF THE CONVECTION SHOULD WANE AFTER 01Z... THOUGH SOME HIGHER CHANCES WILL LINGER OVER SE GA WHERE WILL CARRY VCSH LATE INTO THE NIGHT. BRIEF PERIOD OF MVFR VSBY POSSIBLE AT GNV EARLY SAT MORNING. AS FRONT APPROACHES THE REGION BY MIDDAY SAT...WENT WITH VCSH AND CB MENTION FOR NOW. && .MARINE... SLY FLOW INCREASES A BIT TONIGHT BUT MAY BE JUST BELOW SCEC CRITERIA FOR WINDS. WINDS SHIFT TO MORE SWLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT ON SAT WITH HEADLINES POSSIBLE THROUGH SUN MAINLY DUE TO WIND AS SWLY WINDS INCREASE. WINDS SHIFT TO WLY AND NW SUN BEHIND THE FRONTAL PASSAGE STILL AROUND 15-20 KT AT TIMES. MORE NLY FLOW ON MON AND THEN NE TUE BELOW 20 KT. RIP CURRENTS: MODERATE RISK FOR TODAY CONTS WITH ELY SWELLS OF ABOUT 3 FT PER LATEST BUOY REPORT AND PERIOD OF 8 SECONDS. ATTM...LOW RISK FOR SAT BUT SOME SWELL ACTION AND DECENT SURF STILL POSSIBLE FOR AREA BEACHES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 62 82 56 79 / 40 60 50 20 SSI 63 77 60 75 / 40 60 60 30 JAX 62 83 59 81 / 40 60 60 30 SGJ 66 81 63 78 / 30 60 50 30 GNV 61 83 60 80 / 30 50 50 20 OCF 61 85 61 83 / 30 40 50 30 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GA...NONE. AM...NONE. && STRUBLE/SHASHY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 933 AM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 AMZ450-452-454-470-472-474-FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040- GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-240930- ALACHUA- ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT TO 20 NM-APPLING- ATKINSON-BACON-BAKER-BRADFORD-BRANTLEY-CAMDEN (COASTAL)- CAMDEN (INLAND)-CHARLTON-CLAY-CLINCH-COFFEE-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-ECHOLS- FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL OUT TO 20 NM-FLAGLER-GILCHRIST- GLYNN (COASTAL)-GLYNN (INLAND)-HAMILTON-JEFF DAVIS-MARION-NASSAU- PIERCE-PUTNAM- ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT TO 20 NM-ST JOHNS-SUWANNEE- UNION-WARE-WAYNE- 933 AM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. ...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY... ...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING... ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER INLAND AREAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN CONCERNS WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. STORM MOTION WILL BE TO THE EAST AT 5 TO 10 MPH. THERE WILL BE A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY DUE TO ONSHORE WINDS AND EASTERLY SWELLS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE...WITH HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREATS MAINLY OVER SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT SUNDAY. .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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 302 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 FLZ020-021-231945- HAMILTON-SUWANNEE- 302 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN HAMILTON AND NORTHEASTERN SUWANNEE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL VALID UNTIL 345 PM EDT... AT 302 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED OVER LIVE OAK...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND LIVE OAK... SUWANNEE SPRINGS...HOUSTON AND WELLBORN THROUGH 345 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. LAT...LON 3051 8282 3014 8280 3021 8309 3041 8310 TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 275DEG 7KT 3029 8298 STRUBLE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 341 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 FLZ022-030-031-035-036-232030- ALACHUA-BRADFORD-COLUMBIA-GILCHRIST-UNION- 341 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EXTREME WESTERN BRADFORD...NORTHWESTERN ALACHUA...SOUTHWESTERN COLUMBIA... NORTHEASTERN GILCHRIST AND SOUTHWESTERN UNION COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 430 PM EDT... AT 341 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FORT WHITE...OR 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARK...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND FORT WHITE...HIGH SPRINGS...OLENO STATE PARK...WORTHINGTON SPRINGS...LA CROSSE AND DUKES THROUGH 430 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. LAT...LON 3003 8236 2978 8233 2978 8275 2996 8277 TIME...MOT...LOC 1941Z 264DEG 12KT 2988 8265 PETERSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 346 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 FLZ020>023-GAZ163-232030- BAKER-CLINCH-COLUMBIA-HAMILTON-SUWANNEE- 346 PM EDT FRI MAR 23 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CLINCH...EXTREME NORTHWESTERN BAKER...NORTHERN COLUMBIA...SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON AND EASTERN SUWANNEE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 430 PM EDT... AT 346 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF WHITE SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WINFIELD...WHITE SPRINGS...WELLBORN...SUWANNEE VALLEY... LAKE CITY...FIVE POINTS AND BELMONT THROUGH 430 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO THREE QUARTER INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. LAT...LON 3065 8245 3011 8246 3010 8282 3044 8283 TIME...MOT...LOC 1946Z 232DEG 9KT 3041 8267 PETERSON
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:28 UTC.
1 rip current, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A 16-year old male drowned due to rip current at Fernandina Beach. The time of death was approximated; a specific time during Friday afternoon was not given in the media report.
Penny size hail was reported at the intersection of Venetia and Ortega Blvds. Heavy rain and minor street flooding were also reported.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Current, Nassau | 2012-03-31 | 16 | Male | In Water | Direct |
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, March 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: 372428, 372397.