Active weather pattern with mean layer mid level trough carving southward across the SE region and a surface front across the Appalachians. Strong wind shear combined with instability produced 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.
Active weather pattern with mean layer mid level trough carving southward across the SE region and a surface front across the Appalachians. Strong wind shear combined with instability produced severe storms during the afternoon and evening. A couple of tornadoes touched down in SE Georgia.
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 Apr 1, 2:40 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 340 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016 ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS ACROSS SE GA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE STORMS ON SATURDAY... .SHORT TERM...STORMS NOW OVER SW GA WILL SLOWLY MOVE EAST INTO SE GA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. INCREASING INSTABILITY AND SHEAR WILL LIKELY PRODUCE A SEVERE THREAT PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY AN ISOLATED TORNADO OVER SE GA AND POSSIBLY THE SUWANNEE VALLEY. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO SPREAD SE INTO NE FL LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING AS UPPER TROUGH AND COLD FRONT APPROACH. MARGINAL SEVERE THREAT WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY AS FRONT SLOWLY PUSHES SE ACROSS THE AREA. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH RAINFALL TOTALS MOSTLY IN THE 1 TO 2 INCH RANGE. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE AVERAGE WITH HUMID CONDITIONS CONTINUING UNTIL FRONTAL PASSAGE SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SATURDAY NIGHT...MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL ROTATE SLOWLY ESE IN MEAN LAYER TROUGH OVER THE SERN U.S. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HELP DRIVE THE COLD FRONT SWD INTO CENTRAL AND THEN SRN FL. WEAK HIGH PRES WILL BUILD IN AT THE SFC FROM THE W WITH COOLER AND DRIER AIR MOVING ON NWLY FLOW. COOL ADVECTION N/NW WINDS OF ABOUT 5-10 MPH WITH FCST LOW TEMPS INTO THE UPPER 40S N TO LOWER 50S S ZONES...THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER WITHOUT THE WIND. SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...GENERALLY QUIET AND NICE WX EXPECTED WITH A DRY AIRMASS/CLEAR SKIES AND COOLER TEMPS THAN PRIOR DAYS. WEAK HIGH PRES WILL MOVE EWD FROM LOWER MS VALLEY EWD TO SERN U.S AND CENTRAL AND NRN FL. THE COOLER DAY LOOKS TO BE SUNDAY WITH TEMPS MAINLY 70- 75. TEMPS COULD A BIT COOLER SUNDAY NIGHT DUE TO NEAR CALM WINDS...HAVE MID 40S IN SE GA AND UPPER 40S OVER MOST OF NE FL. TEMPS WARM UP MONDAY TO THE UPPER 70S UNDER FULL SUN. .LONG TERM...ANOTHER WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY LOOKS TO MOVE SWD OVER THE AREA LATE TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...BUT TOO DRY FOR ANY PRECIP. SFC HIGH PRES WILL MOVE BEHIND THIS BOUNDARY ALLOWING OUR WINDS TO BECOME N THEN TO NE AND E ON WEDNESDAY. RESULTING ONSHORE FLOW MAY PUSH HIGHS BACK DOWNWARD ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS TO LOWER 70S...BUT MID TO UPPER 70S TOWARD THE I-75 CORRIDOR. YET ANOTHER COLD FRONT FORECAST TO MOVE IN FROM THE NW THURSDAY AND RESULT IN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. FOR NOW WE HAVE 30-50 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN THURSDAY THOUGH THIS MAY BE A LITTLE GENEROUS DUE TO A LACK OF A MORE SUBSTANTIAL MOISTURE RETURN. WITH TSTMS PROBS RELATIVELY LOW AND CONTINUITY WITH PRIOR FCST...LEFT THUNDER OUT OF THE FCST AT THIS TIME. AFTER THIS LATTER FRONTAL PASSAGE...TEMPS ARE FCST TO DROP BACK DOWN BELOW NORMAL ON FRIDAY TO UPPER 60S AND LOWER 70S. && .AVIATION...MOSTLY VFR THIS AFTERNOON WITH CIGS AROUND 4KFT AND GUSTS TO AROUND 20 KNOTS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TIL AROUND 00Z THIS EVENING...MORE LIKELY NEAR THE EAST COAST SEABREEZE FRONT WHICH WILL BE PINNED NEAR THE COAST DUE TO MODERATE SW WINDS. STORMS EXPECTED TO INCREASE LATE TONIGHT TOWARDS MORNING WITH IFR CONDITIONS LIKELY AFTER 10Z. && .MARINE...SOUTH TO SW WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AHEAD OF SLOWLY APPROACHING COLD FRONT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE OVER THE GA WATERS TONIGHT AND OVER THE FL WATERS TOWARDS MORNING. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NW SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS THE FRONT PUSHES TOWARDS THE SE. SCEC CONDITIONS EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT OFFSHORE AND POSSIBLY ADVISORY CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY. RIP CURRENTS: LOW RISK THROUGH SATURDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 67 74 47 72 / 80 70 0 0 SSI 67 75 50 68 / 70 70 10 0 JAX 71 78 52 72 / 50 70 10 0 SGJ 70 80 54 68 / 30 70 20 0 GNV 71 77 52 74 / 40 70 10 0 OCF 71 79 52 75 / 30 70 20 0 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GA...NONE. AM...NONE. && ZIBURA/SHASHY/WALSH
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 448 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016 AMZ450-452-454-470-472-474-FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-124-125- GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-020830- 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- 448 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016 ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 75 FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THROUGH THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA... SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT OVER SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE WESTERN SUWANNEE VALLEY...WITH SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED ELSEWHERE IN NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED MOST OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WITHIN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT...WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 9 PM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED OVER EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN GEORGIA...NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA ON SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH OUR REGION. STRONGER ACTIVITY WILL PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA ARE ASKED TO SELF-ACTIVATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHEN WATCHES AND/OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. 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
421 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016
GAZ132-012100-
COFFEE GA-
421 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN COFFEE COUNTY UNTIL
500 PM EDT...
AT 421 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM FITZGERALD TO NEAR ALAPAHA. MOVEMENT WAS EAST
AT 40 MPH.
GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR
WIND DAMAGE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DOUGLAS...BROXTON...AMBROSE AND PRIDGEN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3148 8311 3156 8306 3161 8306 3161 8305
3162 8304 3163 8301 3166 8301 3166 8300
3179 8299 3179 8294 3178 8292 3179 8290
3178 8289 3178 8287 3180 8285 3155 8284
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 265DEG 35KT 3170 8324 3145 8317
NELSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
428 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016
GAZ150-152-012115-
BRANTLEY GA-WARE GA-
428 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BRANTLEY AND EAST
CENTRAL WARE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT...
AT 428 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12
MILES NORTH OF STEPHEN FOSTER STATE PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 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...
BRAGANZA AND FORT MUDGE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
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 3122 8227 3122 8223 3120 8219 3122 8215
3126 8214 3110 8198 3101 8224 3101 8241
3094 8242 3093 8246 3100 8251
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 236DEG 37KT 3099 8240
NELSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
433 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016
FLZ024-GAZ164>166-012115-
INLAND NASSAU FL-CHARLTON GA-INLAND CAMDEN GA-COASTAL CAMDEN GA-
433 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN NASSAU...
SOUTHEASTERN CHARLTON AND SOUTHWESTERN CAMDEN COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM
EDT...
AT 433 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
ST. GEORGE...OR 11 MILES WEST OF CALLAHAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR
WIND DAMAGE.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ST. MARYS...KINGSLAND...HILLIARD...WOODBINE...CALLAHAN...KINGS BAY BASE...
ST. GEORGE...KINGS FERRY AND COLESBURG.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
LAT...LON 3072 8162 3074 8163 3073 8163 3073 8166
3074 8166 3070 8168 3068 8167 3042 8202
3055 8217 3099 8175 3080 8152
TIME...MOT...LOC 2033Z 224DEG 31KT 3055 8203
HESSThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:02 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down near the intersection of Caney Bay Road and Britt Still Road.
An EF1 tornado caused damage near the Clinch and Atkinson county line. It was a high-end EF1 with maximum winds near 100 mph. One home was heavily damaged with most of the roof gone. The home was an older structure with lath roofing and no bracing in the rafters. Major tree blown down occurred in two locations. One location was near Tharpe Road, north of Arabia Bay. The second area was near Keaton Farm Road and the Guest Millpond area off of U.S. Highway 441. The tornado weakened near Cogdell and Sandy Bottom in Atkinson County. It is possible the tornado lifted prior to reaching Cogdell and the damage in Cogdell could be attributed to the rear flank downdraft. One post-storm injury occurred when an individual was clearing his roof. Cost of damage was unknown.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down off of Highway 441 near Guest Millpond. The time of damage was based on radar.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down near the intersection of Mexico Road and Cogdell Road.
Minor structure damage impacted a few mobile homes and barns in the 2200 block of Fiddler Green Road.
A tree fell on a power line at the intersection of Albert Gibson Road and Browntown Road.
A tornado touched down just south of U.S. Highway 82 in Millwood. The preliminary intensity was EF1 with maximum winds near 100 mph. The tornado was on the ground for about 9 minutes and traveled about 2.6 miles. Minor damage occurred near Indian Mound Road and damage became more significant as the storm moved over the Manor-Millwood Road north. Damage to structures and trees was more signficant near Mullis Road where an old travel trailer was rolled and destroyed. A trailer in the area also had its rooof removed. Damaged occurred near Perch Creek Rd toward the Zion Hill Freewill Baptist Church where many small farm structures were thrown northward. The tree damage pattern was convergent. Major tree blown down was observed at a farm north of Zion Hill Road. Several horses were trapped by debris and two dogs were missing after the tornado went through. Cost of damage unknown.
A tin roof was blown off of a residence. Photos via social media relayed to NWS by local media.
Social media indicated a funnel cloud near the Fat Daddy's ATV Park. The time of the event was based on radar data.
A power line was blown down in the SE portion of the county. The time and location were based on radar.
Several trees and power lines were blown down across Waycross.
One large tree was blown down on Radio Station Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down on North Brunswick Street. Another tree was blown down on Old Screven Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2016Warnings in Georgia, April 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: 624030, 624042, 624031, 624032, 624033, 624041, 624029, 624036, 624037, 624039, 624034, 624035, 624040.