Stronger SW steering flow with a weak surface trough axis across SE GA provided amble moisture and forcing over an unstable airmass that triggered a few strong storms as the sea breezes edged inland.
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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.
Stronger SW steering flow with a weak surface trough axis across SE GA provided amble moisture and forcing over an unstable airmass that triggered a few strong storms as the sea breezes edged inland.
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 Jul 17, 8:56 AM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 956 AM EDT Tue Jul 17 2018 .UPDATE... The 12Z sounding this morning showed deep tropical moisture across the area, with precipitable water values over 2.1 inches. Deep southwest to westerly flow aloft prevailed, and storms will move to the east northeast around 15 mph. It was warm aloft with 500mb temps only -5.5C, and lapse rates were also not impressive. Expect mainly garden variety heavy rainmakers, but cannot rule out a few strong wet microbursts. Convection was moving inland from the Gulf coast this morning, and expect this convection to increase in coverage as it progresses east northeastward across northeast Florida in the early afternoon, reaching the east coast between 17-19Z. An east coast sea breeze is not forecast to develop due to the southwesterly flow being too strong, and showers and storms will move off the east coast in the mid to late afternoon. Northwesterly flow aloft will prevail across much of inland southeast Georgia, and expect convection to move southeast into the area in the late afternoon to early evening ahead of a surface cold front pushing into north central Georgia. This convection is forecast to extend into the late evening hours across southeast Georgia before dissipating. Showers and isolated storms will then redevelop along the Gulf coast and push into the western areas mainly from I-75 westward in the early morning hours and towards daybreak on Wednesday. Highs today will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s. && .AVIATION... Convection was moving slowly inland from the Gulf coast this morning, and will impact KGNV by the late morning. Convection will then progress northeastward towards the east coast TAF sites 17Z through 21Z before moving offshore. Southwest winds near 10 knots will prevail through the day, with light winds overnight. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 91 74 92 74 / 60 50 60 30 SSI 90 77 91 77 / 70 40 60 50 JAX 90 76 92 75 / 60 20 60 30 SGJ 90 76 90 74 / 60 30 40 40 GNV 88 74 91 74 / 60 30 50 30 OCF 88 75 88 74 / 60 50 60 40 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AM...None. && Kennedy/Shashy/Bricker
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 1251 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018 FLZ021-171715- Suwannee FL- 1251 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SUWANNEE COUNTY UNTIL 115 PM EDT... At 1251 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Dowling Park, or 10 miles southwest of Live Oak, moving east at 20 mph. Excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph can be expected along with possible minor damage. Locations impacted include... Live Oak, Luraville and Newburn. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 3011 8318 3027 8321 3041 8299 3016 8288 TIME...MOT...LOC 1651Z 248DEG 16KT 3022 8313 AK
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
102 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
FLZ023-030-031-171730-
Baker FL-Union FL-Bradford FL-
102 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BRADFORD...SOUTHEASTERN BAKER AND
UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT...
At 102 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lake Butler, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph
can be expected along with possible minor damage.
Locations impacted include...
Starke, Lake Butler, Raiford, Worthington Spring, Macclenny, Glen St.
Mary, Worthington Springs, Palestine Community, Groves and New River.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3009 8249 3010 8246 3011 8245 3030 8213
3021 8205 2999 8205 2985 8226 2984 8228
2988 8234 2988 8239 2992 8241 2992 8242
2993 8245 3007 8253
TIME...MOT...LOC 1702Z 233DEG 24KT 2997 8235
AKSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 105 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018 FLZ024-025-124-125-171730- Inland Duval FL-Inland Nassau FL-Coastal Duval FL-Coastal Nassau FL- 105 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL NASSAU AND NORTHEASTERN DUVAL COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT... At 104 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Cisco Gardens, or near Jacksonville International Arpt, moving northeast at 20 mph. Excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph can be expected along with possible minor damage. Locations impacted include... Jacksonville, Jacksonville International Arpt, Arlington, Cisco Gardens, Nassau Village-Ratliff, Ratliff, Oceanway, San Marco, Riverside and Fort Caroline. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 3026 8173 3050 8187 3069 8164 3041 8146 TIME...MOT...LOC 1704Z 242DEG 15KT 3044 8176 AK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
113 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0109 PM TSTM WND GST JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIO 30.48N 81.71W
07/17/2018 M40 MPH DUVAL FL ASOS
JACKSONVILLE INTL AIRPORT MEASURED A GUST TO 35 KNOTS/40
MPH IN A THUNDERSTORM.
&&
ASHASHYSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
123 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
FLZ025-033-125-133-171800-
Coastal St. Johns FL-Inland Duval FL-Coastal Duval FL-
Inland St. Johns FL-
123 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL ST. JOHNS AND
SOUTHEASTERN DUVAL COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT...
At 122 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Durbin, or 8 miles east of Fruit Cove, moving northeast at 20 mph.
Excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph
can be expected along with possible minor damage.
Locations impacted include...
Ponte Vedra Beach, Neptune Beach, Palm Valley, Sawgrass, Nocatee,
Bayard, Durbin and San Pablo.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3003 8146 3015 8159 3038 8141 3034 8136
3025 8135 3012 8130
TIME...MOT...LOC 1722Z 222DEG 17KT 3012 8148
AKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
126 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
FLZ023-025-030>032-171800-
Inland Duval FL-Baker FL-Union FL-Bradford FL-Clay FL-
126 PM EDT TUE JUL 17 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BRADFORD...
SOUTHEASTERN BAKER...NORTHEASTERN UNION...NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND
SOUTHWESTERN DUVAL COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT...
At 126 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Raiford, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts up to 55 mph can
be expected along with possible minor damage.
Locations impacted include...
Maxville, Baldwin and Ellerbee.
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 3003 8215 3011 8223 3031 8206 3027 8205
3032 8199 3016 8185
TIME...MOT...LOC 1726Z 233DEG 25KT 3012 8213
AKThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:30 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
PA power line was blown down near Liberty and Adams Streets. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
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, July 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: 773644.