A passing mid level short wave trough combined with moist SW steering flow enhanced diurnally driven sea breeze convection, which triggered a few strong to severe storms.
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 passing mid level short wave trough combined with moist SW steering flow enhanced diurnally driven sea breeze convection, which triggered a few strong to severe storms.
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 Aug 2, 8:42 AM EST, 4 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 942 AM EDT Thu Aug 2 2018 .UPDATE...There are two areas of convection at this time, one over the southern Big Bend with cells moving northward, and then other over the offshore waters 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore. A trough resides west of region over the southeast U.S. while high pressure ridge still persists over the western Atlantic. Precipitable water values are between 1.9 to 2.1 inches with cooler mid levels with the upstream trof. A strong shortwave in the mid levels currently over the Panhandle is anticipated to move NE along the eastern periphery of the trof across the SE US just NW of SE GA/NE FL. This feature will increase lift/energy in the atmosphere this late morning and afternoon across all of NE FL/SE GA, in concert with normal daytime heating. HRRR/NAM12 still indicated that both Gulf Coast/Atlc Coast sea breeze fronts pushing inland will initiate numerous to widespread showers and storms by the afternoon hours with a slightly earlier time-frame than previous days by a couple of hours. Max temps will be tempered in the mid/upper 80s with cloud cover and early start of convection. Scattered strong to isolated severe storms possible once again with strong gusty winds of 40-60 mph possible along with locally heavy rainfall of 1-3" in the heaviest of storms as they track off towards the NE at 20-30 mph. The Atlantic Coast sea breeze is expected to push slightly further inland today and make it between the I-95 and US 301 corridors but activity should still push back towards the coastal counties and beaches by late in the day. Lift/Energy pull northeast away from the region tonight and still expect similar winding down of convection during the evening hours with just a few isolated showers/storms lingering after midnight...mainly closer to the trof axis over inland SE GA or over the Atlc Coastal Waters with other areas rain-free. Overnight lows still expected in the lower to middle 70s, not too far from climo values. && .AVIATION...Expect mainly VFR conds through the rest of the morning until storms develop around 18z and impact TAF sites in the 19-23z time frame with potential gusty winds and IFR/MVFR conds and have left TEMPO groups. Nocturnal wind down of storm anticipated with VFR conditions through most of the night-time hours with perhaps storms lingering near KSSI and KSGJ early night-time hours. VFR conditions anticipated during the morning daylight hours. && .MARINE... Pressure gradient between the low pressure trof over the GOMEX and Wrn Atlc High pressure will continue today with S-SE winds approaching 15-20 knots and seas 3-5 ft and will keep Small Craft Exercise Caution headline in the forecast. The southerly flow will slowly weaken to 10-15 knots on Fri before becoming E-SE around 10 knots as high pressure ridge lifts NE of the waters over the weekend. Rip Currents: Moderate Risk continues to due to the S/SE flow along the coast and elevated surf/breakers in the 2-3 ft range. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 87 71 88 72 / 80 40 60 40 SSI 85 77 86 77 / 70 50 50 30 JAX 88 74 89 74 / 80 40 50 30 SGJ 87 75 87 76 / 60 50 40 20 GNV 89 72 90 72 / 80 30 40 30 OCF 89 72 90 73 / 70 30 40 20 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AM...None. && Cordero/Peterson/Bricker
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1223 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
GAZ132-133-021645-
Coffee GA-Jeff Davis GA-
1223 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN COFFEE AND WEST CENTRAL
JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM EDT...
At 1222 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Pridgen, or near Broxton, moving north at 45 mph.
Excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph
can be expected along with possible minor damage.
Locations impacted include...
Douglas, Broxton, Ambrose and Pridgen.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 8313 3148 8311 3151 8308 3156 8306
3161 8305 3164 8301 3166 8301 3166 8300
3172 8300 3175 8298 3178 8289 3178 8287
3181 8283 3140 8284 3143 8314 3145 8314
TIME...MOT...LOC 1622Z 196DEG 37KT 3169 8296
CORDEROSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
145 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
GAZ132-149-021830-
Atkinson GA-Coffee GA-
145 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN COFFEE AND WESTERN
ATKINSON COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM EDT...
At 145 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Willacoochee, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph can be expected along with possible minor
wind damage.
Locations impacted include...
Willacoochee, Broxton and Ambrose.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3148 8311 3156 8306 3161 8306 3164 8301
3169 8299 3171 8296 3166 8286 3146 8288
3119 8294 3119 8305 3123 8305 3128 8303
3131 8306 3133 8306 3140 8314 3143 8314
3147 8315
TIME...MOT...LOC 1745Z 205DEG 36KT 3135 8312
CORDEROSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
202 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
FLZ036-021845-
Alachua FL-
202 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN ALACHUA COUNTY UNTIL 245
PM EDT...
At 201 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
High Springs, or 12 miles southwest of Worthington Spring, moving
north at 40 mph.
Wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph can be expected along with possible minor
wind damage.
Locations impacted include...
Alachua, High Springs, Archer, Newberry and La Crosse.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 2954 8256 2954 8265 2982 8266 2987 8259
2992 8257 2993 8253 2995 8252 2995 8251
2993 8247 2992 8242 2988 8240 2949 8250
2948 8255
TIME...MOT...LOC 1801Z 199DEG 35KT 2982 8259
CORDEROThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Around 2 pm, local media reported flooding at the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Osceola. Water was about car tire high in depth. Also around 2 pm, flooded roadways were reported at San Marco Blvd and Nira Street.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2018
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: 780978.