Tropical Storm in Florida, September 4, 2019

Name: Tropical Storm in Florida, September 4, 2019
Start: 2019-09-04T03:00
End: 2019-09-04T16:40
Location: Florida

September 4, 2019 · NWS JAX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Hurricane Dorian passed between 80-100 NM offshore of the local Atlantic Coast through the day on Sept. 4, 2019, as a Cat 2 storm on its closet approach.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $10 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.

Hurricane Dorian passed between 80-100 NM offshore of the local Atlantic Coast through the day on Sept. 4, 2019, as a Cat 2 storm on its closet approach. Ahead of Dorian, elevated King Tides and persistent onshore flow already raised water levels within the local estuaries by about 1-1.5 ft including the ICWW and St. Johns River basin. Total water rise (storm tide) associated with Dorian was up to 3.2 ft MHHW along the St. Johns county coast to about 1.5-2 ft MHHW within the St. Johns River basin. Heaviest rainfall was confined to a couple bands in St. Johns & Flagler counties. Wind damage was confined to the immediate coast and areas generally east of the I-95 corridor. There was damage to some beach structures including piers and boardwalks. Some homes flooded in Davis Shores of St. Augustine due to surge flooding & rainfall.

What forecasters said that day

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 4, 2:16 AM EST, 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 4, 2:16 AM EST, 44 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
316 AM EDT Wed Sep 4 2019

.Near Term.../through Tonight/...

Hurricane Dorian to slowly move northward, to the east of area
through this evening. While Dorian is southeast of a location the
rain bands will have a northeast to southwest orientation which will
bring showers further inland. As the hurricane moves more to the
east of a location the bands will orient more north to south. As a
result of these bands the areas east of I95 will experience the
heaviest rain, where best potential for flooding from rainfall
will occur. For further details on Dorian, refer to the hurricane
local statement.

High temperatures will trend from the lower 80s near the coast to
the middle 80s inland Today, with lows in the middle 70s Tonight.

&&

.Short Term.../Thursday through Friday/...

Heat to build during this period.

Dorian will be northeast of the area, with a strong northwest flow
continuing across the region behind it Thursday morning. The flow
will gradually decrease through the day Thursday as Dorian pulls
further away. Precipitation expected over coastal SE GA Thursday
morning, will end for Thursday afternoon. Clouds will decrease from
southwest to northeast Thursday, with heat building. Highs Thursday
will reach the middle 90s with heat indices around 100.

As drier air continues to advect in from the northwest, Thursday
night temperatures will fall into the upper 60s over inland SE GA,
and lower 70s elsewhere. The gradient will continue to relax into
Friday, with dry airmass yielding mainly clear skies. The heat will
continue into Friday, with highs in the middle 90s.

&&

.LONG TERM.../Friday night through Tuesday/...

The gradient relaxes over the area while the dry air mass lingers
at least into the weekend. Models continue to indicate PWATS
will average slightly above an inch along with a subsidence
inversion between 850 and 700 MB. This will lead to hot and dry
conditions with light winds into the weekend. Afternoon temps
will be in the mid/upper 90s inland with heat indices from
100 to 102 degrees while coastal areas will be around 90 degrees
with heat indices in the upper 90s with the seabreeze. Lows
fall into the upper 60s to near 70 inland to mid 70s coast.
Moisture levels increase some early next week leading to
isolated to scattered afternoon showers/storms. Continued
above normal afternoon temps with nighttime temps seasonal.

.AVIATION...Rain bands will continue to spread west across
the Taf sites tonight into Wednesday. A rainband will move
across SGJ producing strong and gusty winds and ocnl IFR from
heavy rain til around 08Z. Conditions deteriorate after 12Z Wed
as the outer rain bands from Hurricane Dorian overspread much
of the Taf sites. Expecting widespread MVFR with ocnl IFR from
heavy rain. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 knots will be common at
most sites except slightly lower gusts at GNV.

.MARINE...Hurricane Warning in effect for all of the coastal
waters. Hurricane conditions will overspread the waters Today as
the the center of Hurricane Dorian passes just east of the coastal
waters. Winds shift to west and rapidly decrease on Thursday as
Hurricane Dorian lifts to the Ne away from the waters. Local
interests should continue to monitor the latest forecasts from the
National Hurricane Center. Lighter winds and lower seas expected
over the weekend.

Rip Currents: High risk of rip currents along with life threatening
surf will continue from Hurricane Dorian with breakers of around 15
feet for Wednesday. The combination of the high surf and storm
surge of 3 to 5 feet will produce moderate to major coastal flooding.
Conditions rapidly improve by late Thursday as winds become offshore
and steadily decrease.

HYDROLOGY...Rainfall amounts from Dorian rainfall expected to be
in the 3-6 inch range along the coast...with 1-3 inch amounts
west of the St. Johns River basin. The Black Creek and the St
Mary's River at Maclenney is forecast to remain at action stage
with possible minor flooding at the Sante Fe.

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG  87  74  92  71 /  20  20  10   0
SSI  82  74  90  75 / 100 100  10  10
JAX  81  75  93  73 /  90  70  10  10
SGJ  81  75  93  74 / 100  80  10  10
GNV  82  76  94  72 /  50  20  10   0
OCF  81  75  94  75 /  40  20  10   0

&&

.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for Coastal Duval-
     Coastal Nassau-Inland Duval-Inland Nassau.

     Tropical Storm Warning for Clay-Coastal Duval-Coastal Nassau-
     Eastern Marion-Inland Duval-Inland Nassau-Putnam.

     Hurricane Warning for Coastal Flagler-Coastal St. Johns-Inland
     Flagler-Inland St. Johns.

     High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for Coastal Duval-
     Coastal Flagler-Coastal Nassau-Coastal St. Johns.

     Hurricane Watch for Coastal Duval-Coastal Nassau.

     High Surf Advisory until 1 AM EDT Thursday for Coastal Duval-
     Coastal Flagler-Coastal Nassau-Coastal St. Johns.

     Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for Coastal Flagler-
     Coastal St. Johns-Inland Flagler-Inland St. Johns.

     Coastal Flood Warning until 1 AM EDT Thursday for Clay-Inland
     Duval-Inland Flagler-Inland St. Johns-Putnam.

GA...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for Coastal Camden-
     Coastal Glynn-Inland Camden-Inland Glynn.

     Tropical Storm Warning for Coastal Camden-Coastal Glynn-Inland
     Camden-Inland Glynn.

     High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for Coastal Camden-
     Coastal Glynn.

     Hurricane Watch for Coastal Camden-Coastal Glynn.

     High Surf Advisory until 1 AM EDT Thursday for Coastal Camden-
     Coastal Glynn.

AM...Hurricane Warning 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.

&&

23/Peterson

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 4, 12:23 AM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
123 AM EDT WED SEP 4 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0115 AM     TROPICAL STORM   4 SE SAINT AUGUSTINE    29.86N 81.27W
09/04/2019                   St. Johns          FL   MESONET

            ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH PIER REPORTED A SUSTAINED WIND OF 44
            MPH GUSTING TO 52 MPH.

&&

AK

Local storm report, Sep 4, 2:06 AM EST, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
306 AM EDT WED SEP 4 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1255 AM     TROPICAL STORM   1 N JACKSONVILLE BEACH  30.29N 81.39W
09/04/2019                   AMZ452             FL   MESONET

            JAX BEACH PIER WEATHERFLOW SENSOR MEASURED SUSTAINED 39
            MPH GUSTING TO 50 MPH

&&

AK

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Flagler

When: September 4, 3:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Flagler forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 29.471, -81.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At 4 am on 9/4/19, emergency management reported that the Hammock Dunes Bridge weather system measured a sustained wind of 39 mph. At 7:54 am, emergency management reported power lines were blown down on Annette Street in Flagler Beach. At 9:20 am, a HAM radio operator reported a wire down, laying across Wellstream Lane northeast of Bunnell. At 2:15 pm, a residential deck collapsed and a fence was damaged in North Ocean Shore. Storm total rainfall across the county ranged from 3 - 6 inches, with the higher amounts 5-6 miles SSW of Palm Coast.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Duval

When: September 4, 10:47 AM EST to 4:40 PM EST
Where: Coastal Duval forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.335, -81.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dorian impacts to the county were mainly confined to the immediate beachfront. Scattered trees and large limbs were blown down, and some of this tree debris blocked roads. Most of the tree damage was confined to Arlington and the beaches communities. Storm tide flooding was a larger impact than wind damage and produced flooding and damage to the immediate coast with most damage to Huguenot Park where the boardwalk was majorly damaged. Part of the boardwalk was broken off by wave action and deposited about 100 yards up the beach. The access road to Huguenot Park was completely flooded by storm surge flooding. The Jacksonville Beach Pier sustained damage but the extend was not yet determined. Sand loss occurred to the berm along the entire coast. Farther inland along the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, storm surge flooded the immediate River Walk and overflowed Hogans Creek. At this time structure flooding was unknown. At 1147 am on 9/4, the media reported photos of a large tree that was blown down onto cars in the Lakeshore neighborhood near Ortega. At 2 pm, the storm surge value reached 2.13 ft MHHW at the Mayport tide gauge. Coastal flooding begins at 1.8 ft MHHW at this location. This storm surge value was the highest recorded since the 2.8 ft value measured during Hurricane Irma and the 2.13 ft MHHW value tide for the 10th highest storm surge value measured at this location. Peak winds included 32 mph (gusts 51 mph) at NAS Mayport , 32 mph (gusts 43 mph) at Jacksonville International Airport, 30 mph (gusts to 45 mph) at Cecil Field on the JAX Westside and 36 mph (gusts 48 mph) at NAS Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. Other observations from the WeatherFlow mesonet included 41 mph (gusts 54 mph) at Huguenot Park, 44 mph (gusts 55 mph) at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, 43 mph (gusts 55 mph) at Buck Island west of Mayport in the St. Johns River, and 28 mph (gusts 41 mph) at the Terminal Channel in downtown Jacksonville.

Tropical Storm, Coastal St. Johns

When: September 4, 12:15 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal St. Johns forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

At 115 am on 9/4, the St. Augustine Pier reported a sustained wind of 44 mph with a gust to 52 mph. At 155 pm, a storm surge value of 3.16 ft MHHW datum was measured at the temporarily deployed USGS Tidal Gauge along the Tolomoto River near St. Augustine. Coastal flooding for this location begins around 1.6 ft MHHW. At 3 pm, the water level reached 2.52 ft MHHW on the Tolomoto River north of St. Augustine airport via a DEP Tide Gauge. Coast flooding occurs around 1.2 ft MHHW at this location. This was the highest sea levle rise since 3.61 ft MHHW during Hurricane Irma in 2017. There were some homes flooded in the Davis Shores neighborhood near St. Augustine. A new cut in the beach was formed near Summerhaven. There was overwash and beach erosion observed in Vilano Beach. Trees and branches were blown down within the St. Augustine city limits. The St. Augustine C-Man station recorded a peak sustained wind of 51 mph on 9/4 at 9 am with a peak gust of 62 mph on 9/4 at 8:58 am. The Weatherflow mesonet sensor at Cresent Beach Summerhouse measured a peak wind of 39 mph on 9/4 at 6:48 am and a peak gust of 58 mph on 9/4 at 108 am. The peak wind measured at the St. Augustine Airport was 38 mph on 9/4 at 1:46 am with a peak gust of 47 mph on 9/4 at 1:45 am. Storm total rainfall of 3.47 inches was measured about 6 miles SSW of Palm Valley and 3.31 inches about 2 miles S of Sawgrass.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Nassau

When: September 4, 1:26 PM EST to 1:30 PM EST
Where: Coastal Nassau forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.611, -81.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At 2:26 pm on 9/4, broadcast media showed a video of minor flooding from water pushed onto North Front Street near Center Street. At 2:30 pm, the water level reached 2.55 ft MHHW at the Fernandina Beach tide gauge. Coastal flooding was estimated to begin at 2 ft MHHW. This water level was the highest level recorded since 3.58 ft above MHHW that occurred during Hurricane Irma. The 2.55 ft MHHW was ranked as the 11th highest storm surge value on recorded for this site. The Fernandina Beach Airport measured a peak wind of 32 mph on 9/4 at 1:55 pm with a peak gust of 45 mph at the same time. The NOS station at Fernandina Beach measured a peak wind of 31 mph on 9/4 at 1:18 pm and a peak wind of 48 mph at the same time.

What these are

Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, September 2019 The 2019 hurricane season

Sources

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: 847981, 854388, 853667, 855047.