Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Florida, October 14, 2014

Name: Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Florida, October 14, 2014
Start: 2014-10-14T12:45
End: 2014-10-14T18:35
Location: Florida

October 14, 2014 · NWS JAX · 10 events in 4 counties and zones

Pre-frontal thunderstorms developed over a moist and unstable airmass.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.

Pre-frontal thunderstorms developed over a moist and unstable airmass.

What forecasters said that day

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 Oct 14, 12:40 PM EST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 14, 12:40 PM EST, 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
140 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

.MARINE...

UPDATED TO SMALL CRAFT INNER BASED ON RECENT OBSERVATIONS. THE
INCREASED PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH APPROACHING FRONT IS
EXPECTED TO KEEP WINDS ELEVATED.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG  62  75  55  75 /  80  10   0   0
SSI  67  77  60  74 /  80  20   0   0
JAX  67  79  57  77 /  80  30   0   0
SGJ  69  80  60  77 /  80  80  10   0
GNV  66  78  57  78 /  80  30   0   0
OCF  68  80  58  79 /  80  70   0   0

&&

.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ALTAMAHA
     SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
     ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM-
     FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-
     FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM-ST AUGUSTINE
     TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-ST AUGUSTINE TO
     FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT 20 NM.

&&

STRUBLE

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 14, 12:42 PM EST, 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
142 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

AMZ450-452-454-470-472-474-FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-
149>154-162>166-142300-
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-
142 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 547 GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY
301 THROUGH 7 PM...

...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS...

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA...SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 547 GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY
301 THROUGH 7 PM.

THERE IS A RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. THE MAIN THREAT FROM
THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AROUND 70 MPH...AS WELL AS LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CAN NOT BE RULED OUT.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE COASTAL WATERS.

A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS EXPECTED AT AREA BEACHES DUE
TO LONG PERIOD SWELLS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS EARLY WEDNESDAY.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

.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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 14, 12:00 PM EST, 45 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
100 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

FLZ020-021-141730-
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-
100 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR HAMILTON AND
SUWANNEE COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE
LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 130 PM EDT...

AT 100 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 14 MILES NORTHWEST
OF BLUE SPRINGS TO 4 MILES WEST OF DOWLING PARK TO 17 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF LURAVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND DOWLING PARK...SUWANNEE RIVER STATION...
NEWBURN...LURAVILLE...BLUE SPRINGS...SUWANNEE RIVER STATION...WEST
LAKE...CROSSROADS AND JENNINGS THROUGH 130 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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3064 8327 3060 8270 3052 8273 3045 8266
      3039 8265 3033 8269 3032 8279 2999 8279
      2997 8276 2988 8288 2989 8292 2995 8293
      3008 8308 3011 8323 3026 8326 3041 8318
      3042 8323 3047 8325
TIME...MOT...LOC 1700Z 258DEG 32KT 3062 8330 3026 8321
          2995 8325

SANDRIK

Special weather statement, Oct 14, 12:14 PM EST, 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
114 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

GAZ162-163-141800-
CLINCH-ECHOLS-
114 PM EDT TUE OCT 14 2014

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEST CLINCH
AND WEST ECHOLS COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS VALID UNTIL 200 PM EDT...

AT 111 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 22 MILES NORTHWEST
OF MAYDAY TO 23 MILES SOUTHWEST OF STATENVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 20
MPH. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS AROUND STATENVILLE
AND MAYDAY THROUGH 200 PM EDT. STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 50 MPH
WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH MINOR WIND DAMAGE. IF THE LINE INTENSIFIES
FURTHER THEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WARNINGS MAY BE ISSUED.

REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3079 8314 3081 8311 3086 8309 3086 8302
      3088 8298 3118 8298 3119 8296 3118 8288
      3061 8296 3062 8313 3063 8314
TIME...MOT...LOC 1711Z 252DEG 19KT 3104 8327 3053 8335

SHASHY

The radar

The Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Suwannee

When: October 14, 12:45 PM EST
Where: Suwannee County, 5.2 mi ENE of Falmouth
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.380, -83.050

A tree was blown down near County Road 249.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nassau

When: October 14, 2:18 PM EST
Where: Nassau County, 3.01 mi NNW of Kent
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.560, -81.990

A tree was blown down at the intersection of Henry Lee Road and County Road 121.

Thunderstorm Wind, Duval

When: October 14, 2:20 PM EST
Where: Duval County, 3.63 mi SE of (Nzc)nas Cecil Fld
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 30.190, -81.830

A tree was blown down near Argyle Forest Blvd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Duval

When: October 14, 2:20 PM EST
Where: Duval County, 3.63 mi SE of (Nzc)nas Cecil Fld
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.190, -81.830

A tree was blown down blocking Merchant's Way in Oakleaf Plantation.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nassau

When: October 14, 2:35 PM EST
Where: Nassau County, 0.69 mi N of Hilliard
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.690, -81.920

A large tree was blown down in Hilliard.

Thunderstorm Wind, Duval

When: October 14, 2:36 PM EST
Where: Duval County, 2.26 mi NW of Jacksonville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.370, -81.700

Scattered trees and power lines were blown down across the Jacksonville northwest side due to thunderstorm winds.

Lightning, Duval

When: October 14, 2:45 PM EST
Where: Duval County, 1.5 mi NNE of Dinsmore
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.450, -81.760

Lightning caused a structure fire on East Crystal River Road. The cost of damage was unknown and estimated for inclusion of the event in storm data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nassau

When: October 14, 3:13 PM EST
Where: Nassau County, 0.91 mi NE of Fernandina Beach Arp
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.630, -81.460

A tree was blown down on Amelia Road in Fernandina Beach. A nearby NOS station at Fernandina Beach measured a wind gust to 52 mph. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated so this event could be included in Storm Data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Flagler

When: October 14, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Flagler County, 1.93 mi ESE of St Johns Park
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $200
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.410, -81.400

A tree was blown down across the road in Haw Creek. The time of damage was based on radar, and the cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated so the event could be included in Storm Data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Flagler

When: October 14, 6:35 PM EST
Where: Flagler County, Palm Coast
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.570, -81.210

A pool screen and mailbox were blown down on Folcroft Lane in Palm Coast.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, October 2014

Sources

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: 541838, 541845, 541844, 541846, 541848, 541850, 541837, 541851, 541852, 541853.