Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee
- When
- May 17, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Coffee County, Elba
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 31.410, -86.070
Several trees were blown down in Elba.
Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 17, 2018
The first day of pulse severe convection for this warm season occurred today with scattered storms developing in a warm and unstable airmass favorable for downbursts. A few impacts to trees and power lines occurred.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 TAE wrote it up.
The first day of pulse severe convection for this warm season occurred today with scattered storms developing in a warm and unstable airmass favorable for downbursts. A few impacts to trees and power lines occurred.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 17, 1:24 PM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 1:24 PM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 324 PM EDT Thu May 17 2018 .NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]... A broad, weak trough will remain in place across the region through the period, with a lobe of vorticity rounding the base of the trough overnight. A line of showers and thunderstorms across eastern MS/ western AL at this hour marks the leading edge of this feature. Given the environment, this activity will progress eastward through the afternoon and evening hours, yielding a second shot of showers and storms across portions of the wiregrass late this evening into the early overnight hours. Drier mid-level air will begin to filter into the region tonight as the aforementioned lobe of vorticity advects into the region. This, coupled with wet soils and a moist boundary layer will support the potential for patchy fog in some areas late tonight. The limiting factor with tonight's fog potential will be mixing from non calm surface winds. Warmer high temperatures this afternoon and continued mostly cloudy conditions through the period will keep low temperatures in the 70s tonight. .SHORT TERM [Friday Through Saturday Night]... A brief break from the rainy conditions looks to set up toward the end of the short term period. Model guidance shows that deep layer southerly flow will continue on Friday, and with much of the region still fairly moist this should support showers and thunderstorms across interior areas during the afternoon and evening hours. High temperatures will be on the rise for Friday with a few areas, particularly in the Florida Panhandle where the rain chances will be less, seeing highs in the lower 90s. By Saturday, model guidance is in good agreement that mid level dry air will advance over the region in the wake of a shortwave trough moving through the Tennessee River Valley. As a result, this will keep rain chances below normal for this time of year, generally in the 20-30 percent range. High temperatures will also be warmer than the past few days, with some areas having a chance at reaching the mid 90s. .LONG TERM [Sunday Through Thursday]... Model guidance shows a weak trough of low pressure setting up across the Florida Peninsula by Sunday and with a steady stream of tropical moisture heading northward, expect rain chances to again be on the increase Sunday and through the long term period. Though the surface trough dissipates by Tuesday, aloft, our region will remain in between ridging across Mexico and east of the Florida Peninsula, which will favor good chances for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures are expected to stay a couple of degrees below normal due to all the anticipated convective activity. && .AVIATION [Through 18Z Friday]... SCT TSRA have developed over the Florida Panhandle and is spreading northeastward at this hour. Expect TS in the vicinity at all TAF sites at times this afternoon, with reductions in vsby and CIGS directly under any activity. Southerly winds will prevail AOB 10kts. MVFR to IFR conditions will be possible once again late tonight due to reductions in vsby and CIGS. Confidence in any vsbys dropping below 3SM is low at this time. && .MARINE... Generally light winds and low seas are expected for the next several days. Some increase in easterly flow is expected by Sunday as a weak trough of low pressure moves near the marine area. && .FIRE WEATHER... Hazardous fire weather conditions are not expected over the next several days. && .HYDROLOGY... Decent rainfall over the last few days has alleviated dry conditions across much of the region. The heaviest rain has been across the Suwannee River Basin and westward into portions of the western Florida Big Bend as well as Southwest Georgia. Some small rises are occurring on rivers across the region, but all locations are well below action stages. Additional rainfall over the next few days does not appear to be significant to warrant a flood threat. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Tallahassee 71 89 69 91 69 / 20 40 10 20 10 Panama City 74 86 74 87 72 / 20 20 10 20 0 Dothan 70 88 71 90 70 / 30 50 20 30 10 Albany 70 85 70 90 69 / 30 60 20 30 10 Valdosta 69 87 68 91 68 / 20 50 10 20 20 Cross City 70 86 68 89 69 / 20 30 10 30 20 Apalachicola 74 85 73 85 72 / 10 20 10 10 10 && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AL...None. GM...None. && NEAR TERM...Pullin SHORT TERM...Godsey LONG TERM...Godsey AVIATION...Pullin MARINE...Godsey FIRE WEATHER...Humphreys HYDROLOGY...Godsey
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 17, 2:18 PM CST, 2 hours 42 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 418 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018 GAZ159-160-172100- Brooks GA-Lowndes GA- 418 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN LOWNDES AND SOUTHEASTERN BROOKS COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM EDT... At 418 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles west of I-75 At Exit 16, or 7 miles east of Quitman, moving east at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Lake Park, Valdosta, I-75 At Exit 16, Remerton, Dasher, Twin Lakes, Valdosta Regional Airport, Kinderlou, I-75 At Exit 5, Clyattville, Blue Springs, I-75 At Exit 22 and I-75 At Exit 11. LAT...LON 3070 8351 3088 8352 3094 8321 3067 8319 TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 267DEG 12KT 3080 8344 04-MCD
Special weather statement, May 17, 2:22 PM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 422 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018 GAZ158-159-172100- Brooks GA-Thomas GA- 422 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN THOMAS AND WEST CENTRAL BROOKS COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM EDT... At 422 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Boston, or near Thomasville, moving northeast at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Thomasville, Boston, Barwick, Pidcock, Dixie, Thomasville Municipal A/P, Dillon, Hollis, Newark, Patten, Eason and Oaklawn. LAT...LON 3069 8390 3085 8401 3101 8379 3078 8363 TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 240DEG 12KT 3081 8389 04-MCD
Special weather statement, May 17, 2:44 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 444 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018 GAZ146-158>160-172115- Brooks GA-Lowndes GA-Colquitt GA-Thomas GA- 444 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL LOWNDES... NORTHEASTERN THOMAS...WESTERN BROOKS AND SOUTHEASTERN COLQUITT COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT... At 444 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Boston, or 9 miles west of Quitman, moving northeast at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Quitman, Moultrie, Pavo, Coolidge, Berlin, Barwick, Dixie, Pineboro, Autreyville, Enon, Patten, Spence Airport, Oaklawn, Pidcock, Moultrie Municipal A/P, Brooks Co A/p, Blue Springs, Hollis and Murphy. LAT...LON 3072 8369 3101 8391 3119 8368 3073 8340 TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 240DEG 12KT 3081 8372 04-MCD
Special weather statement, May 17, 3:04 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
504 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018
GAZ147-159-160-172130-
Brooks GA-Lowndes GA-Cook GA-
504 PM EDT THU MAY 17 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN COOK...NORTHWESTERN
LOWNDES AND BROOKS COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT...
At 504 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Quitman, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Quitman, Valdosta, Adel, Hahira, Pavo, I-75 At Exit 16, Remerton,
Morven, Cecil, Barney, Greggs, Pine Valley, Valdosta Regional
Airport, Kinderlou, I-75 At Exit 29, Brooks Co A/p, Blue Springs and
I-75 At Exit 22.
LAT...LON 3069 8357 3096 8374 3099 8374 3104 8361
3103 8357 3105 8357 3114 8336 3081 8317
TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 240DEG 12KT 3089 8359
04-MCDSpecial weather statement, May 17, 4:21 PM CST, 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 521 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018 FLZ007-008-172315- Central Walton FL-North Walton FL- 521 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN WALTON COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM CDT... At 521 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles west of Laurel Hill, or 11 miles north of Crestview, moving east at 25 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... De Funiak Springs, Eglin Air Force Base, Liberty, Paxton, Gordon, Pond Creek, Oakwood Hills, Cluster Springs, Fox Hill, Gaskin, Sand Hill, Alpine Heights, De Funiak Spring Airport, Glendale, Lakewood, Pleasant Ridge, Center Ridge, Flowersville, New Harmony and Piney Grove. LAT...LON 3099 8639 3099 8610 3066 8609 3066 8639 TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 240DEG 49KT 3092 8658 04-MCD
Special weather statement, May 17, 4:24 PM CST, 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
524 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
ALZ065-066-068-069-172330-
Dale AL-Coffee AL-Houston AL-Geneva AL-
524 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN DALE...COFFEE...GENEVA
AND NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...
At 523 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southwest of Opp, moving east at 25 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Daleville, Elba, Geneva, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Ozark, Hartford,
Level Plains, Slocomb, Samson, Newton, New Brockton, Ariton, Lee,
Clayhatchee, Kinston, Coffee Springs, Black, Carl Folsom A/p and
Hooper Stage Field.
LAT...LON 3153 8619 3153 8616 3154 8614 3162 8615
3162 8560 3100 8557 3100 8619 3119 8620
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 240DEG 48KT 3120 8634
04-MCDThe radar
The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:58 UTC.
Event by event
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee
- When
- May 17, 5:15 PM CST
- Where
- Coffee County, 2.67 mi SSW of Richburg
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 31.354, -85.977
Trees were blown down along County Road 514.
Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee
- When
- May 17, 5:20 PM CST
- Where
- Coffee County, 0.59 mi W of Victoria
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 31.540, -85.920
A tree was blown down onto power lines near the intersection of Highway 167 and Highway 125.
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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in South Dakota, May 17 to 18, 2018
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, May 17 to 18, 2018
- Flash Flood and Debris Flow in Washington, May 17, 2018
- Heavy Rain in Virginia, May 17 to 20, 2018
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 17, 2018
- Strong Wind in South Carolina, May 17, 2018
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, May 17, 2018
- Flood in Florida, May 17, 2018
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Maryland, May 17 to 21, 2018
- Damaging Winds in Alabama, May 17, 2018
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Virginia, May 17 to 18, 2018
- Flood and Hail in Texas, May 17, 2018
More
Every storm in Alabama in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, May 2018
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: 745393, 745394, 745395.