A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across the region on April 19th, bringing with it tornadoes and straight line wind damage.
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 line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across the region on April 19th, bringing with it tornadoes and straight line wind damage.
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 Apr 19, 9:31 AM EST, 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1031 AM EDT SUN APR 19 2015
...HEAVY RAINFALL AND A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TODAY...
.NEAR TERM [THROUGH TODAY]...
AN AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING FROM WEST TO EAST THIS
MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. SOME STORMS WILL BE SEVERE. A
TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EDT. DAMAGING WINDS AND
TORNADOES ARE THE MAIN THREAT TODAY. THIS MORNING, A FEW TREES HAVE
BEEN REPORTED DOWN AND ONE TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED WITH DOPPLER
RADAR. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE IN PLACE,
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 1-2", WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED AREAS
RECEIVING 3-6" OF RAIN, WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING. THE
FLASH WATCH WATCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR ALL BUT THE
VALDOSTA REGION AND THE EASTERN FLORIDA BIG BEND. POPS WILL BE NEAR
100% ALL ZONES TODAY.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION [453 AM EDT]...
.SHORT TERM [TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY]...
OUR AREA SHOULD SEE A LULL IN CONVECTION TONIGHT WITH SUBSIDENCE
BEHIND A DEPARTING CONVECTIVE SYSTEM, AND LARGE SCALE 800-300MB
QG DIVERGENCE (ALSO IMPLYING SUBSIDENCE) BETWEEN 00 UTC AND 12
UTC. WE MAINTAINED A 15 PERCENT "SLIGHT CHANCE" OF SHOWERS AND
STORMS AS A FEW MODELS DO DEPICT SOME LIGHT QPF, BUT THAT MAY BE
GENEROUS. LOOKING AHEAD TO MONDAY, THE SYNOPTIC SURFACE COLD FRONT
ARRIVES AND THE FORCING APPEARS STRONGER ON THE 00Z SET OF MODEL
RUNS THAN IN PREVIOUS RUNS. THE NAM AND GFS BOTH INDICATE SOME QPF
DURING THE DAYTIME ON MONDAY AS WEAK-MODERATE QG CONVERGENCE
DEVELOPS IN THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF A 140KT UPPER LEVEL JET. IT
DOES APPEAR THAT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WOULD LIKELY BE ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED - MORE ISOLATED THAN TODAY. ANY CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT
WOULD BE ON THE CUSP OF A PLUME OF STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES,
WHICH WOULD LIKELY CONTRIBUTE TO MODERATE INSTABILITY AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT. WHEN COMBINED WITH AROUND 50 KNOTS OF DEEP LAYER
SHEAR, A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE WITHIN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.
LARGE HAIL WOULD BE A POTENTIAL HAZARD, ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS.
RAIN CHANCES SHOULD THEN QUICKLY COME TO AN END MONDAY NIGHT AS
DRIER AIR ADVECTS IN BEHIND THE SURFACE COLD FRONT.
WITH MORE WIDELY SCATTERED CONVECTION ON MONDAY IN ADVANCE OF THE
COLD FRONT, A RELATIVELY WARM DAY IS EXPECTED WITH HIGHS POSSIBLY
PUSHING INTO THE MID 80S. LOWS BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL BE
COOLER, BUT STILL AROUND 5-10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL ON MONDAY
NIGHT, WITH HIGHS ON TUESDAY NEAR NORMAL (80 DEGREES).
.LONG TERM [TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY]...
HIGH PRESSURE ON WEDNESDAY, LEADING TO A DRY DAY OVERALL, WILL
QUICKLY ERODE WITH RAIN CHANCES RETURNING FROM THURSDAY INTO THE
WEEKEND. THE HIGHEST RAIN CHANCES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON SATURDAY,
WHERE THERE IS DECENT AGREEMENT FROM THE GFS AND ECMWF ON SOME
HIGHER QPF AMOUNTS WITH A WEAK LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. HIGHS LOOK TO
BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL (LOW-MID 80S), WITH LOWS CONTINUING TO BE
WELL ABOVE NORMAL (60S).
.AVIATION...
[THROUGH 12Z MONDAY] CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER INTO MVFR TO
IFR RANGE AT ALL TAF SITES BY DAYBREAK. A SQUALL LINE IS
EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE ECP-DHN CORRIDOR AROUND SUNRISE AND
PROGRESS EASTWARD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
IMPACT ALL TERMINALS WITH ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE.
.MARINE...
SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS MORNING, AND THERE IS DECENT
AGREEMENT AMONGST RAW MODEL GUIDANCE TO PUT WINDS IN THE 15-20
KNOT RANGE ACROSS MUCH OF THE COASTAL WATERS. A SCEC HEADLINE WAS
ADDED TO THE FORECAST, AND ONE COULD BE NEEDED INTO MONDAY. AS A
RESULT OF THE ONSHORE WINDS AND BUILDING SEAS, SURF HEIGHTS SHOULD
BE AROUND 3 FEET TODAY AND MONDAY. A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WAS
POSTED FOR WALTON, BAY, AND GULF COUNTIES.
.FIRE WEATHER...
RED FLAG CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED AT LEAST THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF NEXT WEEK.
.HYDROLOGY...
RAINFALL THIS WEEK HAS RESULTED IN A RISE OF AREA RIVERS WITH MANY
REACHING ACTION OR BANK FULL STAGE. THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER IS
FORECAST TO REACH MINOR FLOOD STAGE AT CARYVILLE LATER TODAY AND
AT BRUCE ON MONDAY. WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN
EXPECTED TODAY, AND ISOLATED TOTALS OF 3-6" POSSIBLE, OTHER RIVERS
MAY APPROACH MINOR FLOOD STAGE THIS WEEK AND FLASH FLOODING MAY BE
POSSIBLE WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL OCCURS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TALLAHASSEE 82 69 85 62 81 / 90 20 30 20 10
PANAMA CITY 79 73 79 64 76 / 100 20 20 10 10
DOTHAN 80 68 83 58 77 / 100 20 30 10 10
ALBANY 78 67 83 58 78 / 100 20 30 20 10
VALDOSTA 80 68 86 61 78 / 100 20 30 20 10
CROSS CITY 83 70 83 63 82 / 80 20 40 20 10
APALACHICOLA 79 73 81 66 77 / 100 20 20 20 10
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
CALHOUN-CENTRAL WALTON-COASTAL BAY-COASTAL FRANKLIN-COASTAL
GULF-COASTAL WAKULLA-GADSDEN-HOLMES-INLAND BAY-INLAND
FRANKLIN-INLAND GULF-INLAND WAKULLA-JACKSON-LEON-LIBERTY-
NORTH WALTON-SOUTH WALTON-WASHINGTON.
HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR COASTAL BAY-
COASTAL GULF-SOUTH WALTON.
GA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR BAKER-BEN HILL-
CALHOUN-CLAY-COLQUITT-DECATUR-DOUGHERTY-EARLY-GRADY-IRWIN-
LEE-MILLER-MITCHELL-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SEMINOLE-TERRELL-
THOMAS-TIFT-TURNER-WORTH.
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR COFFEE-DALE-
GENEVA-HENRY-HOUSTON.
GM...NONE.
&&
NEAR TERM...MCDERMOTT
SHORT TERM...LAMERS
LONG TERM...LAMERS
AVIATION...BARRY
MARINE...LAMERS
FIRE WEATHER...LAMERS
HYDROLOGY...WESTON/MOOREPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
944 AM EDT SUN APR 19 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0942 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 ENE ENTERPRISE 31.33N 85.81W
04/19/2015 COFFEE AL 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON ANTLER DRIVE
0942 AM FLASH FLOOD ENTERPRISE 31.31N 85.85W
04/19/2015 COFFEE AL 911 CALL CENTER
6 TO 12 STREETS FLOODED IN ENTERPRISE
&&
DVDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1004 AM EDT SUN APR 19 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0942 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 NE BRUCE 30.49N 85.95W
04/19/2015 WALTON FL PUBLIC
SOCIAL MEDIA PICTURE OF TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 81 JUST
NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20.
&&
DVDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1013 AM EDT SUN APR 19 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0955 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNE OZARK 31.47N 85.64W
04/19/2015 DALE AL 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN ON MYRTLE ROAD.
1012 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 SSW OZARK 31.42N 85.67W
04/19/2015 DALE AL 911 CALL CENTER
FLOODING REPORTED ALONG WALKER ROAD
&&
DVDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1022 AM EDT SUN APR 19 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0957 AM TSTM WND DMG ABBEVILLE 31.57N 85.25W
04/19/2015 HENRY AL EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL POWER LINES DOWN AROUND ABBEVILLE. POSSIBLE
TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF ABBEVILLE BASED ON DUAL POL DATA
FROM EOX
&&
DVDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1056 AM EDT SUN APR 19 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0951 AM TORNADO 3 WSW ABBEVILLE 31.55N 85.29W
04/19/2015 HENRY AL LAW ENFORCEMENT
STATE TROOPER REPORTED TRAIN CARS OVERTURNED NEAR HIGHWAY
431...MILE MARKER 38.
&&
DVDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree was blown down into a home near Shellman. Monetary damage was estimated.
This is a continuation of the long track tornado that started in Jackson county, FL and moved through Houston county, AL and into Early county, GA. For the Early county, GA portion of the track, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along its path. Some damage to structures occurred, mainly with roofing material removed. The damage width reached its maximum extent south of Blakely where the tornado was estimated to be around 500 yards wide. Significant tree damage was noted about 2 miles south of Blakely just before the tornado started to lift. Debris from this area was blown east of Highway 27, but the tornado itself did not cross the highway. This section of the track was rated EF1 with winds around 105 mph.
While this is certainly not one of the stronger tornadoes to affect the WFO Tallahassee forecast area in recent years, this tornado is noteworthy for having a 39 mile long damage path occurring across three states.
Multiple trees were blown down in Parrott.
A couple of power lines were blown down along Highway 520.
A large tree was blown down near the intersection of OJ Big Pine Road and County Road 26.
Trees were blown down around Blakely.
A large pecan tree was blown down near the intersection of Highway 39 and Rockbluff Road.
Trees were blown down along Patmos Highway.
Several large trees were blown down in Sylvester. One tree fell on a house causing damage.
Trees were blown down in the western part of Lowndes county.
A tree was blown down in Remerton.
Several trees and power lines were blown down in Valdosta.
Nickel size hail was reported in Adel for 5 minutes with little to no wind.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2015Warnings in Georgia, April 2015
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: 569988, 567130, 569989, 569990, 569991, 569992, 569993, 569994, 569996, 569997, 569998, 569999, 570000.