Strong onshore flow combined with distant ENE swells from Hurricane Florence offshore of the Carolina coast brought a high risk of rip currents and increased water levels along the coast.
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The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.
Strong onshore flow combined with distant ENE swells from Hurricane Florence offshore of the Carolina coast brought a high risk of rip currents and increased water levels along the coast.
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 Sep 13, 8:55 AM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
955 AM EDT Thu Sep 13 2018
.UPDATE...
Low level flow is mainly northerly as hurricane Florence remains
about 170 miles east southeast of Wilmington NC. As Florence continues
on a northwest track, our local deep layer flow becomes more northerly
and drier/more subsident will help limit rain chances today. Radar
shows a few showers and storms over the waters and adjacent coast
early today, with additional showers and storms expected over the
srn most zones but scattered at best and isolated coverage elsewhere.
PWATs were high early today at over 2 inches but now at 12z the
JAX sounding showed the decrease we were anticipating and now at
1.79 inches. Partly sunny skies overall today, with cirrus
overhead over the nrn zones associated with outflow from
Florence. High temps in the lower to mid 90s today and heat
indices peak out near 100-105 today. Not anticipating much change
in the forecast update.
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions prevail today and tonight. Generally isolated
coverage of showers and storms. Showers may impact areas near CRG
and SGJ over the next few hours. Otherwise, confidence remains
too low to include in the TAFs at this time. A north to northeast
wind expected today with speeds around or below 10 kt.
&&
.MARINE...
Small Craft Advisory conditions continue due to seas/swells
for all waters as Hurricane Florence approaches the Carolinas.
Seas are a little high in the forecast but within about 1.5 feet
of observed but little overall change in the forecast. Dominant
periods in the 12-15 second range this morning with stronger wave
signal now noted in the buoy readings now that Florence is
closer. Please refer to the National Hurricane Center regarding
official forecast information for Hurricane Florence.
Rip Currents: Breakers estimated to be in the 5 to 7 foot range
per a few observations this morning. High risk for all waters
through Friday, elevated risk into the weekend and early next week
due to lingering swells and changes in the surf zone bathymetry
after the swell event.
Water levels will remain elevated today along the coast and
inland estuaries. Water levels expected to be peaking the next
12-24 hrs then dropping off. Peak values however are expected to
remain in the Action to Minor flood stage range, thus minor
impacts expected at this time. Some beach erosion is to be
expected today and tonight.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 92 73 93 73 / 20 10 10 10
SSI 90 75 93 76 / 20 10 10 10
JAX 92 74 95 75 / 20 10 10 10
SGJ 89 75 93 75 / 30 20 10 10
GNV 93 73 93 74 / 30 10 10 10
OCF 92 73 92 74 / 40 20 10 10
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Coastal Flood Advisory until 8 PM EDT Friday for Coastal Duval-
Coastal Flagler-Coastal Nassau-Coastal St. Johns-Inland
Duval-Inland Flagler-Inland Nassau-Inland St. Johns.
High Rip Current Risk through Friday evening for Coastal Duval-
Coastal Flagler-Coastal Nassau-Coastal St. Johns.
High Surf Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for Coastal Duval-
Coastal Flagler-Coastal Nassau-Coastal St. Johns.
GA...Coastal Flood Advisory until 8 PM EDT Friday for Coastal Camden-
Coastal Glynn-Inland Camden-Inland Glynn.
High Rip Current Risk through Friday evening for Coastal Camden-
Coastal Glynn.
High Surf Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for Coastal
Camden-Coastal Glynn.
AM...Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas until 8 AM EDT Friday
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-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.
&&
Shashy/BrickerThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 coastal flood, 1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
Elevated water levels were reported at Jacksonville Beach with ocean waves pushing up tot the dune line.
High surf was reported with breaker heights up to 7 ft at Jacksonville Beach and water up to the dune line.
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, September 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: 782050, 782051.