SSW steering flow prevailed across the area with sea breeze storms producing gusty downburst winds due to dry mid level air.
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.
SSW steering flow prevailed across the area with sea breeze storms producing gusty downburst winds due to dry mid level air.
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 28, 3:45 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 445 PM EDT Fri Sep 28 2018 ...UNSEASONABLY HOT CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY... ...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES BY LATE SATURDAY... .Currently... Late afternoon surface analysis depicts the axis of Atlantic ridging extending across north central Florida. Meanwhile, a slow moving, wavy frontal boundary extends from the Carolinas through through central Georgia and Alabama to the western Florida panhandle. High pressure (1023 millibars) was building over the Ohio, Tennessee and lower Mississippi Valleys in the wake of this front. Aloft...deep-layered ridging centered between Bermuda and the east central Florida coast extends its axis westward along the northern Gulf coast. Troughing in place from the northern Plains through the Great Lakes states has flattened during the past 24 hours. GOES-East derived Total Precipitable Water imagery indicates that a pocket of slightly higher PWAT values of 1.9-2.0 inches was lifting northward into north central Florida, while a drier (1.6-1.7 inch PWAT) and more subsident air mass prevails along and north of Interstate 10. Scattered convection has developed along the inland moving Gulf and Atlantic coast sea breeze boundaries to the south of Interstate 10. Otherwise, unseasonably hot and humid conditions prevail over northeast and north central Florida, where inland highs have reached the low to mid 90s. Drier air is mixing down to the surface throughout southeast Georgia within the subsident air mass, where temperatures were generally around 90 as of 20Z, with dewpoints generally in the upper 60s. .Near Term (This evening through Saturday)... Scattered convection will continue its slow inland push for locations along and south of Interstate 10, with an enhancement in coverage and intensity expected through sunset for locations in between U.S. Highway 301 and I-75, where mesoscale boundaries will converge. The Near Storm Environment Monitor depicts downdraft CAPE values of 1100-1200 j/kg in this area, so a few strong to briefly severe thunderstorms capable of producing 40-60 mph wind gusts will be possible through the early evening hours as dry mid level air potentially enhances downbursts. Short-term, high resolution guidance also suggests that widely scattered convection will develop through the early to mid evening hours along the I-95 corridor and perhaps as far west as U.S. Highway 301 in southeast Georgia. Activity should dissipate by midnight. Otherwise, fair skies should prevail by the predawn hours across much of our region as deep-layered ridging continues to retrograde towards our area. Lows will only fall to the low to mid 70s inland and the upper 70s at area beaches. The axis of Atlantic ridging will continue to lift slowly northward on Saturday as the weakening frontal boundary to our northwest sinks southward and approaches the Altamaha/Ocmulgee Rivers by late in the day. A dry pocket of air currently in place over south Florida may advect northward into north central Florida during the afternoon hours, which should keep any late afternoon convective coverage isolated at best for locations south of Gainesville. Otherwise, the air mass over inland southeast Georgia will moisten ahead of the approaching front, which should ignite at least scattered mid to late afternoon convection. Sea breeze boundaries will also move quickly inland on Saturday afternoon in northeast Florida, with a slightly better push to the Atlantic boundary likely resulting in a collision to the west of U.S. Highway 301 during the late afternoon and early evening hours, where scattered coverage is expected. Dry and breezy conditions should prevail along most of the northeast Florida coast, where onshore winds will keep highs generally in the upper 80s. Unseasonably hot and humid weather will prevail elsewhere before convection and cloud cover increase, with highs reaching the lower 90s and maximum heat index values around 100 degrees. Colliding mesoscale boundaries may result in a few strong thunderstorms during the late afternoon and early evening hours. .Short Term (Saturday night through Monday night)... Deep-layered ridging will remain centered over our region through Sunday, with a slight westward retrogression resuming early next week. Meanwhile, cool high pressure centered over the Great Lakes states on Saturday evening will shift eastward on Sunday, becoming centered along the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts while wedging southward down the southeastern seaboard. The frontal boundary initially along the Altamaha/Ocmulgee Rivers on Saturday evening will shift very slowly southward through our region during the short term period, resulting in increasing chances for showers and embedded thunderstorms from north to south. Scattered convection may linger over southeast Georgia on Saturday night as low level flow shifts to a more onshore east-southeasterly direction and the frontal boundary sags south of the Altamaha River. Lows Saturday night will remain in the low to mid 70s, except upper 70s to around 80 at area beaches, where a light onshore wind will develop. Our local pressure gradient will begin to gradually tighten on Sunday, with breezy onshore winds developing at area beaches by the afternoon hours. The frontal boundary should push southward to near the FL/GA border by the evening hours, with numerous showers and embedded thunderstorms forecast during the afternoon hours for locations north of I-10. Scattered activity will be possible elsewhere to the south of the approaching boundary. Inland highs should still reach the upper 80s to near 90, with breezy onshore winds keeping coastal highs generally in the mid 80s. Temperatures may also be a few degrees cooler to the north of the front for locations north of Waycross. Showers and thunderstorms should blossom over the Georgia coastal waters on Sunday evening as a surge of east-northeasterly winds spreads southward and increases convergence. Some locally heavy downpours will be possible over coastal northeast Florida overnight into Monday morning as the remnant frontal boundary continues to sink southward, potentially focusing a few bands of slow moving convection. Inland activity should otherwise diminish during the evening hours, with lows again in the lower 70s inland and the upper 70s at the coast, where breezy east-northeast winds will continue overnight. Monday could be a stormy day over much of our region as onshore flow peaks and the remnant frontal boundary enhances convective development. Scattered to numerous showers and embedded thunderstorms should spread inland from the coast during the late morning and afternoon hours, with breezy onshore winds prevailing at the coast. Activity may not reach north central Florida until late in the afternoon, where highs may still climb to the upper 80s to around 90. Highs elsewhere will generally remain in the mid 80s. A drier air mass will attempt to advect over our region from the east on Monday night, but there is not much agreement in the long term models on this timing. At least scattered coastal showers and thunderstorms should continue as our local pressure gradient only gradually loosens, with inland activity currently expected to diminish during the evening hours. Onshore winds will keep coastal lows in the upper 70s, while inland lows generally fall to around 70. .Long Term (Tuesday through Friday)... Deep-layered ridging will continue to retrograde slowly westward next week, resulting in gradually lowering heights aloft over our area. High pressure wedging southward down the U.S. eastern seaboard will slowly weaken as it settles over the southeastern states towards midweek. A much drier air mass will finally advect over our region. However, persistent but gradually weakening onshore winds will keep the threat for isolated to widely scattered coastal showers in place for much of the week. Model blends keep highs generally in the upper 80s inland and mid 80s at the coast. As the surface ridge settles over the southeastern states towards midweek, radiational cooling conditions should result in lows falling to the mid to upper 60s for inland southeast Georgia and the northern Suwannee Valley. Breezy onshore winds will keep coastal lows in the mid to upper 70s. && .Aviation... Weaker seabreeze and a lower coverage of storms is expected as we move forward through the afternoon into the early evening hours. Applied VCTS at JAX, GNV, and SSI terminals where short term guidance suggests the best chances for scattered thunderstorms after 3pm. Otherwise, have added VCSH for showers most terminals after 6pm for inland showers moving back over the I-95 corridor due to the southwest flow aloft. && .Marine... The axis of Atlantic ridging will remain positioned over the northeast Florida waters through Saturday. A southerly evening wind surge will not be as pronounced tonight, keeping winds in the 10-15 knot range through around midnight before diminishing during the predawn hours. Seas will generally remain in the 3-5 foot range offshore and 2-4 feet through Saturday evening. A long period northeasterly ocean swell originating from distant Subtropical Storm Leslie is forecast to arrive on Saturday afternoon. Combined seas will build to Caution levels of 4-6 feet in the offshore waters on Saturday evening, with near shore seas building to 3-5 feet. Meanwhile, a cold front will begin to push southward through the Georgia waters by late Sunday and into the northeast Florida waters by early Monday as strengthening high pressure over New England and the Mid-Atlantic states wedges southward down the U.S. eastern seaboard. Our local pressure gradient will gradually tighten as this occurs from late Sunday through early next week, with onshore winds increasing to 15-20 knots. Combined seas are now expected to reach Small Craft Advisory levels in the offshore waters on Sunday, with near shore seas reaching Caution levels on Sunday and continuing through at least midweek. Rip Currents: A long period easterly ocean swell will persist through the early afternoon hours on Saturday, keeping a low-end moderate risk in place at area beaches. A very long period northeasterly swell (19-20 seconds) originating from distant Subtropical Storm Leslie will reach area beaches during the late afternoon hours on Saturday. These powerful swells will combine with a more consistent onshore flow to result in high risk conditions through at least early next week. && .Climate... Through Sept 27th...GNV/AMG/SSI all rank as Hottest September on record so far, while JAX tied for 2nd Hottest September all-time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 71 90 72 87 / 10 50 30 60 SSI 77 87 78 85 / 10 30 40 50 JAX 74 89 74 88 / 20 20 30 50 SGJ 77 87 78 86 / 10 10 20 40 GNV 72 92 72 90 / 40 20 10 30 OCF 72 92 72 91 / 50 20 10 30 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AM...None. && Nelson/Hess/Corless
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 540 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018 FLZ023-024-GAZ164-282215- Baker FL-Inland Nassau FL-Charlton GA- 540 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL NASSAU...EAST CENTRAL BAKER AND SOUTHEASTERN CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM EDT... At 539 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Callahan. This storm was nearly stationary. Wind gusts near 40 mph can be expected along with possible minor wind damage. Locations impacted include... Callahan, St. George and Nassau Village-Ratliff. 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. && LAT...LON 3054 8177 3032 8213 3047 8220 3067 8183 TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 180DEG 4KT 3052 8191 ZIBURA
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 549 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018 FLZ022-282215- Columbia FL- 549 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL COLUMBIA COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM EDT... At 548 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Lake City. This storm was nearly stationary. Wind gusts near 40 mph can be expected along with possible minor wind damage. Locations impacted include... Lake City, Five Points, Watertown and Winfield. 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 lightning will also occur. && LAT...LON 3011 8259 3011 8278 3030 8278 3029 8258 TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 180DEG 4KT 3016 8269 ZIBURA
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
624 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018
FLZ040-282245-
Marion FL-
624 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MARION COUNTY UNTIL
645 PM EDT...
At 623 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of Santos and northwest of Ocala.
Wind gusts near 40 mph can be expected along with possible minor
wind damage.
Locations impacted include...
Ocala, Ocala Airport and Lowell.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 2896 8231 2899 8234 2899 8235 2907 8247
2922 8241 2922 8240 2923 8240 2933 8236
2934 8213 2896 8213
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 354DEG 9KT 2899 8223
ZIBURASpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 631 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018 FLZ023-GAZ164-282315- Baker FL-Charlton GA- 631 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BAKER AND SOUTH CENTRAL CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM EDT... At 630 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles east of Taylor, or 21 miles southwest of Callahan. This storm was drifting to the west. Wind gusts near 40 mph can be expected along with possible minor wind damage. Locations impacted include... Taylor, Macclenny, Glen St. Mary and Sanderson. 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. && LAT...LON 3056 8243 3056 8208 3024 8207 3022 8243 TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 098DEG 4KT 3042 8215 ZIBURA
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
637 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018
FLZ020>022-282315-
Columbia FL-Hamilton FL-Suwannee FL-
637 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN COLUMBIA...NORTHERN
SUWANNEE AND HAMILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM EDT...
At 637 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Suwannee Springs, moving north at 15 mph.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph can be expected along with possible minor
wind damage.
Locations impacted include...
Live Oak, Jasper, Jennings, White Springs, Suwannee Springs, Suwannee
River State Park, Suwannee Valley, Belmont, Blue Springs and
Crossroads.
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 3062 8324 3058 8254 3028 8257 3026 8324
3029 8323 3031 8321 3035 8321 3035 8319
3038 8319 3039 8317 3041 8318 3042 8322
3046 8322 3047 8324
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 193DEG 11KT 3041 8303
ZIBURASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
640 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018
FLZ023>025-GAZ164-282315-
Inland Duval FL-Baker FL-Inland Nassau FL-Charlton GA-
640 PM EDT FRI SEP 28 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN NASSAU...EAST CENTRAL
BAKER...WEST CENTRAL DUVAL AND SOUTHEASTERN CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL
715 PM EDT...
At 639 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bryceville, or 12 miles southwest of Callahan, moving north at 10
mph.
Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph can be expected along with possible minor
wind damage.
Locations impacted include...
Hilliard, Callahan, Kings Ferry, St. George, Bryceville, Baldwin and
Whitehouse Air Field.
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 3022 8187 3021 8207 3056 8208 3077 8204
3079 8181
TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 193DEG 11KT 3043 8198
ZIBURAThe Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:03 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down near 6209 NW 50th Terrace. The cost of damage was estimated for the event to be included in Storm Data.
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: 782061.