A surface front was stalled across N Florida with a moist and unstable air mass in place. A mid level short wave trough passed over the area in the afternoon which fueled a few strong to severe storms which initiated along the sea breezes and outflows.
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 front was stalled across N Florida with a moist and unstable air mass in place. A mid level short wave trough passed over the area in the afternoon which fueled a few strong to severe storms which initiated along the sea breezes and outflows. Activity moved offshore of the Atlantic coast into the evening 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 Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 19, 9:42 AM EST, 4 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 1042 AM EDT THU MAY 19 2016 .UPDATE... The very moist atmosphere over the region allowed low clouds to quickly develop after sunrise this morning near the Atlantic coast and across Southeast Georgia. This has delayed heating a bit but a few extra breaks in the clouds by early afternoon will allow temps to climb into the 80s. The morning sounding showed a moist and unstable airmass which will be supportive of scattered to numerous storms this afternoon. The highest concentration of storms is expected along the I-95 corridor mid to late this afternoon and also across inland southeast Georgia late this afternoon into this evening. A broad surface trough just upstream will become more oriented west to east across southern Georgia this afternoon. Ongoing numerous storms along this boundary will eventually move into southeast Georgia by late this afternoon and continue into this evening as they move southeast towards the Jacksonville area during the evening hours. Isolated strong storms will be possible late this afternoon into this evening with strong gusty winds and locally heavy downpours being the main concerns. && .AVIATION... MVFR ceilings this morning will mostly lift to VFR levels by noon. Storms will increase in coverage this afternoon, becoming scattered to numerous along the I-95 corridor and across most of southeast Georgia. Timing this activity at each terminal remains difficult and we will continue to maintain vcts this afternoon until we can get a better handle on the exact timing of this activity. Look for amendments by early afternoon. The strongest storms will be capable of brief ifr conditions in heavy rain. && .MARINE... Southeast winds around 10 knots Today with seas of 2 to 3 feet. Storms will increase in coverage this afternoon with increased winds/seas in and near storms. RIP CURRENTS: Low Risk. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 85 69 86 70 / 70 50 70 80 SSI 80 72 83 72 / 40 60 50 70 JAX 86 69 88 71 / 60 50 60 60 SGJ 83 72 86 72 / 50 30 60 50 GNV 88 69 89 70 / 50 10 60 50 OCF 88 70 89 70 / 40 10 60 40 && .JAX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... FL...None. GA...None. AM...None. && Shuler/Shashy/Combs
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 410 AM EDT THU MAY 19 2016 AMZ450-452-454-470-472-474-FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-124-125- GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-200745- COASTAL WATERS FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST. AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM ST. AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST. AUGUSTINE FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM ST. AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-INLAND NASSAU-INLAND DUVAL-UNION- BRADFORD-CLAY-ST. JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION- COASTAL NASSAU-COASTAL DUVAL-COFFEE-JEFF DAVIS-BACON-APPLING- WAYNE-ATKINSON-WARE-PIERCE-BRANTLEY-INLAND GLYNN-COASTAL GLYNN- ECHOLS-CLINCH-CHARLTON-INLAND CAMDEN-COASTAL CAMDEN- 410 AM EDT THU MAY 19 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA... SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING. A FEW STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG AND PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS IN ADDITION TO FREQUENT LIGHTNING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE...WHICH MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL BRING NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY MORNING. A FEW STORMS MAY BE STRONG AND PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS IN ADDITION TO FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ACTIVATION IS NOT NEEDED 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
258 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
GAZ153-154-165-191930-
INLAND CAMDEN GA-INLAND GLYNN GA-COASTAL GLYNN GA-
258 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL CAMDEN AND GLYNN
COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...
AT 257 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
WAVERLY...OR 10 MILES WEST OF DOCK JUNCTION...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BRUNSWICK...ST. SIMONS ISLAND...DOCK JUNCTION...JEKYLL ISLAND AND
COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LAT...LON 3105 8139 3107 8153 3108 8154 3108 8157
3113 8157 3112 8158 3111 8160 3108 8161
3111 8180 3116 8177 3117 8178 3128 8175
3131 8142 3129 8141 3128 8138 3129 8139
3129 8138 3130 8137 3130 8134
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 282DEG 25KT 3117 8169
NELSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
302 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
FLZ022-023-GAZ164-191945-
BAKER FL-COLUMBIA FL-CHARLTON GA-
302 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN COLUMBIA...CENTRAL
BAKER AND SOUTH CENTRAL CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
AT 302 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10
MILES SOUTHWEST OF TAYLOR...OR 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF LAKE CITY...MOVING
EAST AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TAYLOR AND MACCLENNY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3044 8256 3057 8211 3034 8205 3031 8205
3026 8251
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 256DEG 19KT 3037 8246
HESSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
303 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
FLZ030>032-191945-
BRADFORD FL-CLAY FL-UNION FL-
303 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL UNION...BRADFORD AND
WESTERN CLAY COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
AT 303 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
BEASLEY...OR OVER LAKE BUTLER...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
STARKE...LAKE BUTLER...KEYSTONE HEIGHTS...RAIFORD...MIDDLEBURG...KINGSLEY...
CAMP BLANDING...BEASLEY...NEW RIVER...SAMPSON...LAWTEY...HAMPTON...BROOKER...
JOHNSTOWN...ELLERBEE AND DUKES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 2984 8218 2985 8220 2984 8222 2985 8224
2986 8231 2988 8234 2988 8239 2992 8241
3011 8240 3015 8222 3014 8205 3018 8205
3019 8199 3019 8193 2980 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 256DEG 19KT 2999 8233
HESSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
307 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
FLZ036-191945-
ALACHUA FL-
307 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN ALACHUA COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM EDT...
AT 307 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
ALACHUA...OR NEAR WORTHINGTON SPRING...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GAINESVILLE...ALACHUA...HIGH SPRINGS AND LA CROSSE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 2992 8257 2993 8255 2992 8254 2995 8251
2993 8247 2993 8245 2992 8242 2992 8241
2988 8239 2988 8234 2985 8230 2984 8227
2975 8225 2975 8254 2992 8258
TIME...MOT...LOC 1907Z 258DEG 6KT 2985 8249
HESSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
313 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
FLZ024-GAZ164-191945-
INLAND NASSAU FL-CHARLTON GA-
313 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN NASSAU AND EAST
CENTRAL CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
AT 313 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11
MILES SOUTHWEST OF FOLKSTON...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HILLIARD...FOLKSTON AND HOMELAND.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3060 8219 3063 8220 3078 8215 3079 8217
3089 8192 3085 8190 3083 8190 3082 8189
3080 8188 3079 8187 3064 8178
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 258DEG 6KT 3071 8213
HESSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 334 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016 FLZ033-192000- ST. JOHNS FL- 334 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL ST. JOHNS COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM EDT... AT 334 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER VILANO BEACH...OR NEAR SAINT AUGUSTINE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE IN DIAMETER AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SAINT AUGUSTINE...SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH...SOUTH PONTE VEDRA...VILANO BEACH...SAINT AUGUSTINE SOUTH...SAINT AUGUSTINE SHORES...BUTLER BEACH AND ANASTASIA. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 2983 8140 3003 8143 3006 8128 2979 8119 TIME...MOT...LOC 1934Z 268DEG 13KT 2994 8135 HESS
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:36 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A tin roof was blown off of an out-building by strong winds near Boulogne. The time of damage was based on radar.
Trees and power lines were blown down near Belfort and Touchton Roads. The time of damage was based on radar.
Temporary street flooding was reported along A1A north of State Road 100 from North 5th Street to North 8th Street.
Multiple trees were blown down near County Road 214 and County Road 13 South.
A few trees were blown down in Flagler Estates in southern St. Johns county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2016
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: 629374, 629375, 629378, 629376, 629377.