A surface low drifted over eastern Ga during the afternoon and evening with a trough extending to its WSW. This feature combined with active sea breezes and a very unstable airmass (noted 500 mb temperatures between -14 and -15 deg C) created scattered severe storms during 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 surface low drifted over eastern Ga during the afternoon and evening with a trough extending to its WSW. This feature combined with active sea breezes and a very unstable airmass (noted 500 mb temperatures between -14 and -15 deg C) created scattered severe storms during the afternoon and 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 May 17, 2:40 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 340 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 .CURRENTLY... AFTERNOON SURFACE ANALYSIS DEPICTS A WEAK LOW PRESSURE CENTER (1013 MILLIBARS) OVER COASTAL GEORGIA...WITH A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. FURTHER NORTH...HIGH PRESSURE (1026 MILLIBARS) IS BUILDING OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION...AND THIS FEATURE IS PUSHING A COLD FRONT INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES. ALOFT...A MID AND UPPER LEVEL CIRCULATION IS CUTTING OFF OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...WITH A DEEP TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTHWARD FROM THIS CIRCULATION INTO THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. PER THE MORNING SOUNDING AT TALLAHASSEE...DRIER AIR ALOFT HAS FILTERED INTO WESTERN PORTIONS OF OUR REGION. HOWEVER...COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT...MINUS 14 DEGREES CELSIUS AT 500 MILLIBARS ON THE 12Z KJAX SOUNDING...ARE RESULTING IN VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS OVER THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SECTION OF OUR AREA. DIME TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WERE REPORTED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON WITHIN STORMS OVER WAYNE AND APPLING COUNTIES...AND THIS ACTIVITY IS PRESSING INTO THE COASTAL GEORGIA COUNTIES. .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT AND FRIDAY)... ACTIVITY SHOULD INCREASE OVER THE COASTAL FLORIDA COUNTIES THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...AS PLENTY OF MESOSCALE BOUNDARIES POTENTIALLY INTERSECT AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS ALOFT PROMOTE THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG AND ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. LESS COVERAGE IS EXPECTED FURTHER WEST...WHERE DRIER AND SLIGHTLY MORE STABLE AIR ARE IN PLACE. WITH DRIER AIR IN PLACE...EXPECT INTERIOR TEMPERATURES TO FALL TO A FEW DEGREES BELOW MID-MAY CLIMATOLOGY...OR IN THE LOWER 60S...WITH MID-60S ELSEWHERE. TROUGHING ALOFT OVER OUR REGION WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY. MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THAT DRIER AIR WILL FILTER INTO EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THIS WILL SERVE TO REDUCE RAIN CHANCES QUICKLY BY MIDNIGHT...AND ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE EXPECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. AS LOW PRESSURE STRENGTHENS OFF THE CAROLINA COASTLINE...THE WEAK BOUNDARY CURRENTLY TO OUR NORTH WILL PRESS SOUTHWARD...AND OUR LOCAL PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL GRADUALLY TIGHTEN AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHWARD. THIS COMPLICATED WEATHER PATTERN WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS ON FRIDAY...WITH SCATTERED ACTIVITY MOVING INLAND AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES. DESPITE PLENTY OF MORNING SUNSHINE...SOME COOL AIR ADVECTION WILL RESULT IN HIGH TEMPERATURES GENERALLY REMAINING IN THE LOWER 80S ALONG THE COAST...AND MID-80S INLAND. && .LONG TERM (FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING TO THE NORTHEAST OF OUR AREA...EXPECT BREEZY NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. OTHERWISE...MID AND UPPER LEVEL TROUGHING WILL BE SLOW TO DEPART OUR REGION. WITH UNSTABLE CONDITIONS ALOFT PERSISTING...WE WILL KEEP SCATTERED MAINLY AFTN AND EVENING SHOWERS/TSTMS ON SATURDAY AREA WIDE...DIMINISHING SOME ACROSS SOUTHEAST GA SUNDAY AS THE TROUGH AXIS NUDGES SOUTH ACROSS NORTHERN/CENTRAL FL. WITH A LESS AMPLIFIED TROUGH PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK...WILL USE MAINLY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL DAYTIME TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE WEEKEND WILL WARM TO ABOVE NORMAL VALUES BY TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK AS OUR FLOW ALOFT BECOMES MORE ZONAL. && .AVIATION... VFR WILL PREVAIL EXCEPT FOR NEAR TSRA. HAVE TSRA AT SSI WHERE STORMS ARE APPROACHING ATTM. WILL AMEND FLORIDA TERMINALS TO REMOVE TEMPO SINCE MOST OF ACTIVITY HAS MOVED OFF TO THE SE. && .MARINE... WINDS/SEAS WILL REMAIN QUIET INTO FRIDAY MORNING. EXPECT SCEC CONDS OVER THE WEEKEND AS PRESSURE GRADIENT INCREASES ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST. WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHEAST FRIDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. RIP CURRENTS:LOW RISK THROUGH FRIDAY. AN ELEVATED RISK MAY DEVELOP THIS WEEKEND DUE TO MODERATE ONSHORE WINDS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 62 82 63 85 / 30 30 30 30 SSI 67 77 69 78 / 60 30 30 30 JAX 65 82 64 82 / 60 40 40 30 SGJ 67 80 70 79 / 60 40 40 40 GNV 62 85 64 86 / 40 40 40 40 OCF 64 87 65 87 / 40 40 40 40 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GA...NONE. AM...NONE. && NELSON/TRABERT/MCALLISTER
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 1158 AM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 AMZ450-452-454-470-472-474-FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040- GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-180845- ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM- FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM- ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT 20 NM- ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-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- 1158 AM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. ...ISOLATED STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON... .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BE OVER NORTHEAST FLORIDA COUNTIES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN BECOME MORE NUMEROUS AS WE GO THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL FIRE OVER SOUTHEAST GEORGIA BY MID AFTERNOON UNDERNEATH AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE. STORM MOTION WILL BE EAST AROUND 10 MPH WITH HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE IN SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS. ISOLATED STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND SOME HAIL. FOR BOATERS...SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE MOVING OFFSHORE INTO THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. BE AWARE THAT SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS OVER 35 KNOTS AND HAIL. A FEW STORMS WILL LINGER INTO THE EVENING BEFORE WRAPPING UP COMPLETELY BY MIDNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. .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. JDS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
428 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012
FLZ024-025-GAZ165-166-172100-
COASTAL CAMDEN-DUVAL-INLAND CAMDEN-NASSAU-
428 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN
CAMDEN...NORTHEASTERN DUVAL AND EASTERN NASSAU COUNTIES FOR STRONG
WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 500 PM EDT...
AT 429 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES WEST OF
HIGH POINT TO COLESBURG...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH. THESE STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WOODBINE...HIGH POINT...
COLESBURG...HARRIETTS BLUFF...YULEE...FERNANDINA BEACH...ST. MARYS...
KINGSLAND...KINGS BAY BASE AND DUNGENESS THROUGH 500 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. 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 3077 8145 3072 8144 3070 8142 3060 8144
3052 8142 3051 8144 3047 8141 3047 8180
3098 8183 3103 8145 3098 8147 3096 8144
3098 8142 3098 8140 3090 8140
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 338DEG 13KT 3094 8146 3091 8168
HESSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
443 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0312 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE BOYS ESTATE 31.31N 81.46W
05/17/2012 GLYNN GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
HOFWYL-BROADFIELD PLANTATION OFF OF HIGHWAY 17 REPORTED 2
TREES DOWN AND PEA SIZE HAIL. TIME OF EVENT BASED ON
RADAR.
&&
ARSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 449 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 FLZ037-172130- PUTNAM- 449 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CENTRAL PUTNAM COUNTY FOR EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 530 PM EDT... AT 449 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER JOHNSON...OR 4 MILES WEST OF INTERLACHEN...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND JOHNSON...INTERLACHEN...MANNVILLE AND HOLLISTER THROUGH 530 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED. POSTPONE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY. GO QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING. UNPLUG ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND APPLIANCES AS THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO POWER SURGES AND MAY BE DAMAGED BY NEARBY LIGHTNING STRIKES. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 1-800-499-1594. LAT...LON 2970 8172 2952 8173 2955 8205 2971 8203 TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 278DEG 8KT 2960 8195 NELSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
502 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012
GAZ132-172130-
COFFEE-
502 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN COFFEE
COUNTY FOR STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL VALID UNTIL 530 PM EDT...
AT 502 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER PRIDGEN...OR 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF
BROXTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL
ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND PRIDGEN AND BROXTON THROUGH 530 PM EDT. HAIL
UP TO NICKEL SIZE 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 3176 8291 3174 8286 3167 8284 3165 8272
3153 8290 3162 8304 3164 8302 3166 8302
3167 8300 3175 8300 3176 8295
TIME...MOT...LOC 2102Z 314DEG 5KT 3167 8294
SHASHYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 504 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 FLZ037-040-172145- MARION-PUTNAM- 504 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHWESTERN PUTNAM AND NORTHERN MARION COUNTIES FOR EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 545 PM EDT... AT 504 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 4 MILES WEST OF ORANGE SPRINGS...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF CITRA...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND ORANGE SPRINGS AND HOG VALLEY THROUGH 545 PM EDT. EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED. POSTPONE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY. GO QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING. UNPLUG ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND APPLIANCES AS THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO POWER SURGES AND MAY BE DAMAGED BY NEARBY LIGHTNING STRIKES. REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE DIRECTLY AT 1-800-499-1594. LAT...LON 2956 8169 2938 8171 2945 8205 2959 8205 TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 282DEG 13KT 2950 8200 NELSON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
524 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 WSW DUNGENESS 30.71N 81.54W
05/17/2012 CAMDEN GA 911 CALL CENTER
TREE REPORTED DOWN ON OSBOURN ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
RADAR.
&&
ARSThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:23 UTC.
9 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Penny size hail was reported for 5 minutes with thunderstorm wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph (estimated).
A spotter reported dime to penny size hail for a brief period on the south end of Derringer Road.
Penny to dime size hail lasted for about 10 minutes in downtown Jacksonville near the new courthouse. The time of the event was based on radar.
Quarter size hail was reported near County Road 215 and State Road 21 in Middleburg.
Dime to penny size hail was reported near the intersection of I-95 and State road 207.
Numerous power outages due to tree debris on power lines were reported in Middleburg. Dime size hail was also reported.
Hail covered the ground.
Trees were blown down in Pomona Park. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
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, May 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: 387185, 387186, 387187, 387188, 387189, 387196, 387190, 387191, 387192, 387193, 387195.