A very strong pre-frontal squall line raced across the local area which caused widespread winds damage. The environment had high bulk shear, elevated low level instability that nosed inland along a theta-E ridge axis from the GOMEX, a strong SSW low level jet, overridden by a strong mid level lobe of PVA.
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 very strong pre-frontal squall line raced across the local area which caused widespread winds damage. The environment had high bulk shear, elevated low level instability that nosed inland along a theta-E ridge axis from the GOMEX, a strong SSW low level jet, overridden by a strong mid level lobe of PVA.
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 Apr 18, 8:30 PM EST, 3 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
930 PM EDT Thu Apr 18 2019
...ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA
FRIDAY...
.UPDATE...
Very active pattern the next 24 hours as strong low pressure and
squall line with severe winds will impact all of SE GA/NE FL. This
evening a trof will interact with lingering sea breeze boundaries
and just enough moisture to trigger scattered showers mainly east
of a line from GNV-JAX-SSI, mainly impacting the I-95 corridor of
NE FL and the St Johns River Basin. For now expecting moderate
shower activity with some brief heavy downpours and some gusty
winds to around 30-35 mph, not expecting enough instability to
trigger storms but not out of the question as these push into the
coastal waters after midnight and linger almost towards morning
closer to the Gulf Stream far offshore. Otherwise skies becoming
cloudy with very mild overnight temps for mid April with lows in
the upper 60s to near 70 degrees. On Friday, models have come into
good agreement on squall line timing entering portions of inland
SE GA and the Suwannee River valley by 9-11am and moving quickly
eastward to the I-95 corridor and St Johns River Basin by Noon-2pm
time frame and into the coastal waters by late afternoon. Storm
Prediction Center has maintained an "Enhanced" risk of severe
storms which is defined as "Numerous" Severe storms, so a solid
squall line is expected to impact all of SE GA/NE FL with likely
40-60 mph winds and isolated embedded tornadoes and intense storms
with winds exceeding 60 mph in some locations. Also be aware that
the pressure gradient ahead of the squall line will increase so
that non thunderstorm winds from the south will be in the 20-30
mph range with gusts of 35-40 mph ahead of the squall line and a
Wind Advisory may need to be posted to account for this, but main
event still expected to occur at the leading edge of the squall
line. Please remain aware of weather conditions through the day
tomorrow and be prepared to take cover ahead of this potentially
dangerous weather event. Max Temps will push quickly into the
lower to middle 80s ahead of the squall line but may be held in
the upper 70s over far inland areas where the rainfall occurs in
the morning hours. Rainfall amounts are expected to be around an
inch area-wide with isolated amounts to 2+ inches in the heavier
storms and will likely cause ponding of water on roadways and
temporary localized flooding.
&&
.AVIATION...
Mainly VFR conds this evening with still a question on how much
the shower activity pushing up the FL peninsula will impact the
TAF sites, so for now have kept the VCSH wording with the best
shot of terminal shower activity at SGJ by 03-04z time frame with
low MVFR possibilities. Otherwise increasing winds just above the
surface will support LLWS (Low Level Wind Shear) at inland TAF
sites after 06z with 35-40 knots winds at 1-2Kft. Rest of forecast
is based on strong southerly winds developing by 13-14z at
20G30knots and possible MVFR CIGS, then timing of squall line
impacting TAF sites by 17-18z with S-SW winds at 25G40 knots for
brief period, then showing slight decrease in winds and lingering
showers by 20-21z through the end of the period.
&&
.MARINE...
South winds already increasing ahead of approaching frontal system
tonight into the 20-25 knot range with Gale Force South to
Southwest winds of 25-35 knots expected on Friday and Gales have
been posted for the coastal waters with gusts to 40-45 knots
expected which will likely be convectively enhanced as the severe
squall line pushes through the waters during the mid to late
afternoon hours.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Still expect Strong low pressure system and associated severe
weather to impact NE FL/SE GA on Friday and will likely come
close to breaking Daily Record Low Pressure and Max Wind Gusts
for April 19th and have included these below as FYI...
Daily Record LOW SLP / Daily Record Max WindGust
JAX 1003.7 mb 04-19-1901 50 mph 04-19-1965
GNV 1006.1 mb 04-19-1988 35 mph 04-19-1998
AMG 1001.9 mb 04-19-1988 39 mph 04-19-2013
SSI 1003.4 mb 04-19-1978 41 mph 04-19-2013
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 68 78 50 66 / 0 80 10 10
SSI 70 79 55 69 / 10 90 10 10
JAX 69 83 54 71 / 20 90 10 10
SGJ 69 83 56 71 / 50 80 10 10
GNV 69 81 54 71 / 10 100 10 10
OCF 68 83 55 71 / 20 100 10 10
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
GA...None.
AM...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM EDT Friday for 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.
Gale Warning from 4 AM Friday to midnight EDT Friday night for
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.
Gale Watch from 8 AM EDT Friday through Friday afternoon 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.
Small Craft Advisory 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.
&&
Hess/BrickerThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:22 UTC.
63 thunderstorm wind, 3 lightning, 2 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were blown down along Phillips Highway near the St. Johns County and Duval County Line. The time of damage was based on radar. The cost of damage was estimated for the inclusion of the event in Storm Data.
A tree was blown down on Hospital Drive. The road was not blocked. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for Storm Data.
Numerous trees were blown down across western Hamilton County.
Florida State Warning Point relayed a reported of a tree blown down onto a home at 1405 Duval Street NE in Live Oak Pines. No injuries/fatalities reported.
Florida State Warning Point relayed report of a tree blown down onto the porch of a home. The time of damage was based on radar.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
A tree was blown down onto a home east of Live Oak. Trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
Trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
County EM reported a potential tornado on the ground along County Road 242 south of Lake City.
The Zaxby's roof and sign were damaged. The time of damage was based on radar data.
Trees and power lines were blown down across the eastern portion of the county.
EM storm survey at 157 SW Endeavor Court reported severe thunderstorm wind damage to the property. A tree was blown down onto private residence, and there were several power lines blown down across the area.
A tree was blown down along NW 162nd street between Newberry and Gainesville.
Trees were blown down across U.S. Highway 90 which caused a vehicle to swerve to avoid the downed trees.
Florida State Warning Point reported Interstate 10 East Bound through the Osceola National Forest had to be closed at mile marker 317 due to a downed tree. No injuries or fatalities.
Numerous trees were blown down near Tower Road and West University Avenue, west of Interstate 75.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
Florida State Warning Point relayed a report of a tree blown down on a private residence at 8239 Thomas Sweat Road. Several trees and power lines were blown down in the area. No fatalities or injuries reported.
Alachua county EM reported wind damage at 34th Street and 16th Avenue in Gainesville. Two vehicles were damaged by heavy debris in the area. No structural damage reported. Power lines were blown down. A tree fell on a horse in a rural area. EM reported wind gusts up to 72 mph from an unofficial source.
A tree was blown down over a home in Macclenny.
A large tree was blown down near the intersection of East Shuey Ave and Milton St. Time of damage was based on radar.
University of Florida EM reported a tree down near in the intersection of Museum Road and Radio Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
Numerous trees were blown down across roads and on homes in Gainesville city limits.
A tree was blown down on a home at 1721 Glendale Street. Time of damage based on radar.
Florida State Warning Point reported a tree fell and hit a home at 737 S Epperson Street in Starke. The time of damage was based on radar. There were no injuries or fatalities.
Trees were snapped and hanging over power lines in Hilliard along Murry Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down on a home in Starke. The time of damage was based on radar.
A large oak tree was blown down and completely blocked Otis Road at Dillon Road.
Tree were blown down on the right hand shoulder of Interstate 10 near mile marker 348. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down onto a shed in Callahan. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree and large tree limbs were blown down along Crystal Springs Road near Chaffee Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
Power lines were blown down and arcing onto trees at Salk Avenue and Sunlight Drive.
Trees were blown down along U.S. Highway 1 in Callahan. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
Trees were blown down in Dunnellon. One tree was blown down on a roof near 95th Court. The time of damage was based on radar data.
Lightning hit a building along New Kings Road and caused a structure fire. A transformer blew. The time of the damage was unknown but estimated based on squall line passage. Cost of damage was unknown but estimated for the event to be included in Storm Data.
A commercial structure fire occurred along Lem Turner after a power surge from lightning. The time of the damage was unknown but estimated based on squall line passage. Cost of damage was unknown but estimated for the event to be included in Storm Data.
A tree was blown down on a home along West 9th Street.
Power lines were blown down along Cedar Oaks Drive. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree limb was blown down onto a power line and caught fire along West 14th Street.
A tree branch blew down onto a power line along Brady Road, and the power line caught fire. The time of damage was based on radar.
Lightning caused a transformer fire along Sawpit Road. The time of the damage was unknown but estimated based on squall line passage. Cost of damage was unknown but estimated for the event to be included in Storm Data.
A gate was damaged by winds at the Heritage on the River apartment complex at Conferderate Point Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
Large tree limbs were blown down across 6300 block of Old Middleburg Road near Sandler Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
Winds damage a roof along Morgan Street. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down on Los Robles Drive. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down onto a power line which caused a small fire.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across NW Putnam county.
A power line was blown down near Aurora Blvd and Blanding Blvd. Numerous tree limbs were blown down across the area. Port-o-Potty blown down by winds.
A tree was blown down onto a power line along Beauclerc Road. Road was blocked.
A tree was blown down at the intersection of 90th Street and South Highway 475. Traffic was blocked.
The WeatherFlow sensor at Huguenot Park measured a gust of 60 mph.
A power line was blown down on Scott Mill Road. Time of damage based on radar.
State Road 100 East and West bound were closed due to a fallen tree, just west of Coral Farms Road in Florahome.
A tree was blown down at NE 25th Avenue and NE 3rd Street. The time of damage was based on radar.
Florida State Warning Point reported a tree blown down on a private residence in Ocala along 8898 South Magnolia Avenue, south of Ocala. Numerous trees and power lines were down in the area. The time of damage was based on radar.
Florida State Warning Point reported a tree blown down on a private residence in Ocala along 3349 NE 42nd Place, northeast of Ocala. Numerous trees and power lines were down in the area. The time of damage was based on radar.
A large branch pierced the roof of a home near 103rd Street and Blanding Blvd. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down on a home near NE 58th Ave. and NE 35th Street. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree fell onto power lines along Shotgun Court.
Florida State Warning Point relayed report of trees and power lines blown down at State Road 19 near 403 N Summit Street near Crescent City. A USPS sign was destroyed by a fallen tree. The post office was not damaged. The time of damage was based on radar.
Power lines were blown down at the intersection of SE 25th and State Road 40.
A large tree was blown down on NE 24th Street next to Steak-N-Shake near State Road 40.
Florida State Warning Point reported a tree blown down on a private residence in Ocala along 7868 NE 7th Circle, ESE of Silver Springs. Numerous trees and power lines were down in the area. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down and blocked all lanes of traffic on SE 147th Place at SE 77th Court in Summerfield. The time of damage was based on radar.
A spotter reported a funnel cloud near the intersection of 1st Lane and A1A Beach Blvd.
Summit Street was closed near the USPS office in Crescent City due to downed trees and power lines. The post office had some minor structure damage from a fallen tree. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down onto a power line at 37 Briarwood Drive. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down onto a power line at 37 Briarwood Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2019
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: 814799, 814801, 814803, 819143, 819142, 814804, 814805, 814806, 814797, 814808, 814810, 819144, 815251, 815271, 819146, 815252, 815253, 819147, 819149, 815254, 815255, 815256, 815257, 815269, 819145, 815258, 815259, 819153, 819154, 815260, 815261, 819155, 815262, 815266, 819159, 819160, 815267, 815268, 819156, 819157, and more.