A broken band of pre-frontal storms moved across NE Florida during the afternoon and early evening. Strong low level winds promoted strong downburst potential.
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 broken band of pre-frontal storms moved across NE Florida during the afternoon and early evening. Strong low level winds promoted strong downburst potential. One storm moved west to east across Marion county and produced some trees and power line 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 Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 15, 3:10 PM EST, 4 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
310 PM EST Wed Feb 15 2017
...Strong to Severe Thunderstorms Possible through Late Afternoon
in North Central Florida...
...Wind Advisory Continues through 6 PM...
.Currently...
Late afternoon surface analysis depicts low pressure (998
millibars) consolidating off the mid-Atlantic coast, with a cold
front extending southwestward across the Carolina coastal plain,
interior portions of southeast Georgia, and the Florida Big Bend
region. Shallow convection along the front is waning in coverage
over southeast Georgia, while a broken squall line is attempting
to form from north central Florida to off the west central Florida
coast. Stronger convection, with isolated severe thunderstorms
capable of damaging downburst wind gusts, will likely be confined
to north central Florida and perhaps portions of coastal
northeast Florida through the late afternoon hours. The bigger
story continues to be strong gradient winds throughout our region,
with numerous gusts in the 45 mph range reported since the mid
morning hours. Temperatures have soared into the lower 80s across
most of northeast Florida, while the first signs of drier air in
the wake of the cold front have filtered into the Altamaha River
basin.
.Near Term (this Afternoon through Thursday)...
Scattered strong to severe convection will continue through late
afternoon over north central Florida, with more isolated coverage
along the actual front over coastal southeast Georgia and the
Interstate 10 corridor. Damaging wind gusts will continue to be
the primary threat, with individual convective cells moving
rapidly northeastward at 50-60 mph. Activity will move into the
offshore coastal waters during the early evening hours as the cold
front moves rapidly eastward through the remainder of our region.
Cold air advection will overspread our region from northwest to
southeast as the nighttime progresses, with skies rapidly
clearing. Northwesterly winds will gust to 20-25 mph through
around midnight, with decreasing speeds expected during the
predawn hours as our local pressure gradient loosens. Lows will
fall to near 40 along the Altamaha River basin, with 40s
elsewhere, except lower 50s in Marion County.
High pressure centered over Deep South Texas early on Thursday
will continue to build eastward along the northern Gulf coast as
the day progresses, keeping weak cold air advection in place with
northwesterly winds of 10-15 mph expected for most locations. Full
sunshine will counter the cold air advection, with highs generally
reaching the low to mid 60s, except upper 60s in north central
Florida. These values are only a degree or two below mid-February
climo.
.Short Term (Thursday night and Friday)...
Behind the cold front, temperatures will dip down into the mid to
high 30s across inland Georgia, and low 40s along the coast and
into most of northeast Florida Thursday night. Heights will rise
on Friday as a rather short lived upper level ridge builds across
FL and southern Georgia. High temperatures will rebound into the
70s across most of the area, and with moisture yet to rebound,
will be a pleasant day as dewpoints remain in the 30s.
.Long Term (Saturday through Wednesday)...
Saturday morning will also start out pleasant, but heights will
fall as a shortwave trough approaches the Lower Mississippi
Valley. Scattered showers will be possible on Saturday and
Saturday night, and while there remains a fair amount of bulk
shear (30 - 40kts), moisture return looks a little bleak for
widespread rain or severe weather at this time. The shortwave
trough should depart our area late Saturday night, and upper level
ridging is expected to build across the Gulf of Mexico for the
start of next week. High temperatures in the mid to upper 70s are
expected Sunday through Wednesday. The upper level pattern will
likely shift again towards the end of the week as another
shortwave trough approaches the area, bringing our next chance for
precip.
&&
.Aviation...
Mostly VFR ceilings of 3000-4000 feet will prevail through around
00Z ahead of the cold front. Southwesterly to westerly surface
winds will remain sustained in the 20-25 knot range, with
occasional gusts to 35-40 knots through 22Z. Scattered to
numerous showers and embedded thunderstorms will impact the
terminals through 22Z. Brief periods of IFR visibilities and MVFR
ceilings will be possible as this activity impacts the terminals,
as heavier showers and thunderstorms are moving east-
northeastward at 50-60 mph. Isolated severe thunderstorms will be
possible, with strong wind gusts being the primary threat. VFR
conditions will prevail after 22Z, with surface winds becoming
northwesterly at 10-15 knots during the early evening hours.
&&
.Marine...
Small Craft Advisory conditions will continue over the nearshore
waters through the evening hours, with occasional wind gusts to
gale force expected offshore through early evening. A cold front
will cross the waters during the early evening hours, with
westerly winds early this evening shifting to a northwesterly
direction before midnight. Seas offshore will remain in the 5-7
foot range overnight, with near shore seas subsiding to 2-4 feet
expected. Showers and thunderstorms should depart to the east by
the early evening hours, with speeds falling back to caution
levels in the near shore waters towards midnight, and during the
predawn hours in the offshore waters. Winds and seas will remain
in the caution range through Thursday in the offshore waters.
High pressure will continue to build into our region from the west
on Thursday night, settling directly over our coastal waters on
Friday. Weak low pressure will approach the Florida peninsula from
the Gulf of Mexico by late Saturday, and will quickly move through
the northeast Florida coastal waters on Saturday night. Winds and
seas will remain below caution levels this weekend and early next
week.
Rip Currents: Low risk expected through Friday due to offshore
winds.
&&
.Fire Weather...
Strong southwest to westerly surface and transport winds will
create high dispersion values region-wide through sunset. A much
drier and cooler airmass will filter in late tonight into Thursday
behind the front as winds decrease and shift to the NW with RH
values diving below critical levels Thursday and Friday
afternoons. Red Flag conditions are not expected at this time as
winds are not expected to reach above 10 mph on Thurs or Fri.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 40 63 38 69 / 0 0 0 0
SSI 47 64 46 66 / 10 0 0 0
JAX 46 65 42 71 / 20 0 0 0
SGJ 49 65 45 69 / 20 0 0 0
GNV 48 67 40 72 / 10 0 0 0
OCF 50 67 41 73 / 10 0 0 0
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 6 PM EST this evening for Alachua-Baker-
Bradford-Clay-Coastal Duval-Coastal Nassau-Columbia-Flagler-
Gilchrist-Hamilton-Inland Duval-Inland Nassau-Marion-Putnam-
St. Johns-Suwannee-Union.
GA...Wind Advisory until 6 PM EST this evening for Appling-Atkinson-
Bacon-Brantley-Charlton-Clinch-Coastal Camden-Coastal Glynn-
Coffee-Echols-Inland Camden-Inland Glynn-Jeff Davis-Pierce-
Ware-Wayne.
AM...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EST Thursday for 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.
Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EST this evening for 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.
&&
Nelson/Elsenheimer/Enyedi/Cordero/Corless/McGinnisHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 607 PM EST Wed Feb 15 2017 AMZ450-452-454-470-472-474-FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-124-125- GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-161145- 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- 607 PM EST Wed Feb 15 2017 ...Small Craft Advisory through Tonight... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia and the Adjacent Coastal Waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Gusty winds will continue early this evening near 30 to 35 mph. These winds will drop off after 8 pm. A small craft advisory continues until late this evening for the near shore waters and through the overnight hours offshore. Winds will occasionally gust to gale force in the offshore waters through the evening hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... Isolated thunderstorms are possible over northeast Florida on Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Jacksonville website on the internet at weather.gov/jax.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
311 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0219 PM NON-TSTM WND GST N MAYPORT 30.38N 81.41W
02/15/2017 M42 MPH DUVAL FL ASOS
A NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 42 MPH WAS MEASURED AT
MAYPORT.
&&
WCORLESSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
314 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0212 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 E ARLINGTON 30.33N 81.52W
02/15/2017 M43 MPH DUVAL FL ASOS
A NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 43 MPH WAS MEASURED AT
JACKSONVILLE CRAIG MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
&&
WCORLESSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
317 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST N JEKYLL ISLAND 31.04N 81.42W
02/15/2017 M40 MPH GLYNN GA MESONET
A NON-THNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 40 MPH WAS MEASURED AT
JEKYLL ISLAND.
0256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST JEKYLL ISLAND 31.04N 81.42W
02/15/2017 M40 MPH GLYNN GA MESONET
A NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 40 MPH WAS MEASURED AT
JEKYLL ISLAND.
&&
WCORLESSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
319 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST LAKE CITY 30.19N 82.64W
02/15/2017 M42 MPH COLUMBIA FL AWOS
A NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 42 MPH WAS MEASURED AT
LAKE CITY.
&&
WCORLESSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
351 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
FLZ024-GAZ164>166-152145-
Inland Nassau FL-Inland Camden GA-Charlton GA-Coastal Camden GA-
351 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN NASSAU...SOUTHERN
CAMDEN AND NORTHEASTERN CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EST...
At 351 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles west of Homeland, or 8 miles west of Folkston, moving east at
45 mph.
Wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph can be expected along with possible minor
wind damage.
Locations impacted include...
St. Marys, Kingsland, Folkston, Kings Bay Base, Homeland, Kings
Ferry, Cumberland Island, Harrietts Bluff and Colesburg.
LAT...LON 3079 8142 3071 8142 3072 8160 3073 8160
3072 8162 3074 8163 3073 8163 3073 8165
3074 8166 3072 8167 3073 8217 3078 8215
3079 8223 3091 8224 3097 8139
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 267DEG 37KT 3082 8216
PETERSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
725 PM EST WED FEB 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM WILDFIRE 5 SW BUNNELL 29.41N 81.31W
02/15/2017 FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR
WILDFIRE UP TO 435 ACRES AND IS ABOUT 60 PERCENT
CONTAINED. PORTIONS OF STATE ROAD 11 HAVE BEEN CLOSED
BETWEEN HAW CREEK ROAD AND COUNTY ROAD 304.
&&
ASHASHYThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 157 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:53 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The county dispatch reported scattered reports of trees and power lines down, including one down along West Highway 328.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, February 2017
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: 680067.