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, 6 hours 23 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
325 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
GAZ133>136-150-151-022015-
Pierce GA-Ware GA-Bacon GA-Appling GA-Jeff Davis GA-Wayne GA-
325 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN PIERCE...NORTH
CENTRAL WARE...EASTERN BACON...NORTHWESTERN WAYNE...APPLING AND
NORTHEASTERN JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT...
At 324 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Graham to 7 miles south of Baxley to 7
miles southeast of Alma. Movement was north northeast at 20 mph.
Nickel size hail, excessive cloud-to-ground lightning and wind gusts
of 45 to 55 mph can be expected along with possible minor damage.
Locations impacted include...
Baxley, Graham, Surrency, Plant Hatch, Bristol, New Lacy and Pine
Grove.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3193 8232 3195 8231 3194 8228 3190 8219
3191 8213 3189 8212 3189 8211 3186 8212
3185 8209 3137 8222 3135 8244 3164 8245
3192 8261 3196 8256 3195 8249 3195 8248
3196 8250 3197 8248
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 227DEG 14KT 3191 8251 3166 8235 3146 8238
AKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
327 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
GAZ134>136-150>152-163-164-022015-
Pierce GA-Ware GA-Bacon GA-Appling GA-Clinch GA-Brantley GA-
Charlton GA-Wayne GA-
327 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PIERCE...SOUTHWESTERN BRANTLEY...
CENTRAL WARE...SOUTH CENTRAL BACON...WEST CENTRAL WAYNE...EAST
CENTRAL CLINCH...NORTHWESTERN CHARLTON AND SOUTHERN APPLING COUNTIES
UNTIL 415 PM EDT...
At 327 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bristol to near Waycross to near Stephen
Foster State Park. Movement was north at 25 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...
Waycross, Blackshear, Patterson, Stephen Foster State Park, Offerman,
Boggy Bay, Pebble Hill, Fort Mudge, Jamestown and Bristol.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3139 8232 3155 8209 3071 8225 3074 8255
3126 8251 3146 8245
TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 199DEG 24KT 3145 8230 3123 8232 3080 8239
AKSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 330 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018 FLZ024-GAZ150-152-164-165-022015- Inland Nassau FL-Ware GA-Inland Camden GA-Brantley GA-Charlton GA- 330 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN NASSAU...WESTERN CAMDEN...SOUTHERN BRANTLEY...SOUTHEASTERN WARE AND NORTHEASTERN CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT... At 330 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Homeland, or over Folkston, moving north at 20 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... Hilliard, Folkston, Homeland, Hickox, Kings Ferry, Race Pond and Winokur. 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 3069 8179 3071 8225 3117 8216 3119 8182 TIME...MOT...LOC 1930Z 166DEG 17KT 3085 8204 AK
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 338 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018 FLZ030-031-036-022015- Union FL-Alachua FL-Bradford FL- 338 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL ALACHUA...WEST CENTRAL BRADFORD AND SOUTH CENTRAL UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT... At 338 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles north of Gainesville Airport, or 7 miles north of Gainesville, moving north 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... New River, Beasley, Sampson, La Crosse and Brooker. 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 2969 8230 2971 8242 3000 8239 2998 8217 TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 187DEG 16KT 2979 8232 AK
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 347 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018 FLZ023>025-031-032-GAZ164-022015- Inland Duval FL-Baker FL-Inland Nassau FL-Bradford FL-Clay FL- Charlton GA- 347 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN NASSAU... NORTHEASTERN BRADFORD...SOUTHEASTERN BAKER...NORTHWESTERN CLAY... SOUTHWESTERN DUVAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL CHARLTON COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT... At 347 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Maxville, or 8 miles northwest of Middleburg, moving north 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... Maxville, Bryceville, Baldwin, Lawtey 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 3001 8195 3003 8212 3040 8211 3040 8184 TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 180DEG 17KT 3012 8203 AK
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
350 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
FLZ036-022015-
Alachua FL-
350 PM EDT THU AUG 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ALACHUA COUNTY UNTIL
415 PM EDT...
At 350 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rochelle, or 9 miles southeast of Gainesville, moving north 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...
Gainesville, Orange Heights, Gainesville Airport, Rochelle, Newnans
Lake and Micanopy.
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 2949 8221 2952 8235 2970 8234 2969 8230
2975 8227 2973 8213 2965 8214
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 188DEG 17KT 2956 8225
AKThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:03 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were blown down along Caney Bay Road between Hoboken and Nahunta. The time of damage was based on radar data.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, 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: 780979.