This event was characterized by a mid-level shortwave becoming negatively tilted in the Tennessee Valley and attendant surface low pressure. The strong wind field associated with this system included another anomalously strong low-level jet, with 925 hPa winds sampled on the 12Z/19 TAE Sounding around 40 knots!
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 TAE wrote it up.
This event was characterized by a mid-level shortwave becoming negatively tilted in the Tennessee Valley and attendant surface low pressure. The strong wind field associated with this system included another anomalously strong low-level jet, with 925 hPa winds sampled on the 12Z/19 TAE Sounding around 40 knots! This advected warm, moist, and unstable air northward, ahead of a pre-frontal trough which served as a focusing mechanism for convection. Instability was initially lacking Thursday Night, but increased on Friday, with Mixed Layer CAPE ranging from 1-1.5k J/kg. Furthermore, the 12Z/19 TAE Sounding revealed Surface Based CAPE of nearly 2.4k J/kg, which is a record for the date per SPC Sounding Climatology! The instability and Bulk Shear (0-6 km) over 50 knots overcame the poorer mid-level lapse rates, and the QLCS intensified as it moved east of the Flint and Apalachicola Rivers on Friday. Despite Shear (0-1 km) around 35 knots on the 12Z/19 TAE Sounding, the hodograph revealed a more unidirectional wind within this layer, however there may have been slightly more veering based on the nearby observations from TLH.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 19, 2:12 AM EST, 5 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
312 AM EDT Fri Apr 19 2019
.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...
The cold front is moving through MS and Southern LA at this time (12
AM EDT). A deep trough over the Southeast is fueling strong to
severe thunderstorms. The leading line of storms has fizzled out but
more storms are developing in Southern AL/MS. These storms will
likely move through the region late tonight and into the morning
hours. The atmosphere is still favorable for these storms to
intensify. Instability is elevated at 1000 to 2500 J/KG in Southern
AL and the FL Panhandle. 0 to 6 KM wind shear is impressive around
60 knots in the FL Panhandle and Southern AL. 0 to 1 KM wind shear
is even more impressive at 30 to 40 knots over Southern AL,
Northwest FL and Southwest GA. That means the environment is
favorable for tornado development.
A squall line will likely move through late tonight into the morning
hours. Widespread damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph will be possible
as storms move through. There will likely be a few tornadoes
embedded in the line of storms. Timing for this line looks like
around 3 to 7 AM for the FL Panhandle and Southeast AL Counties, 5
to 10 AM for Tallahassee/Albany area and adjacent counties and 8 to
noon for easternmost counties like Valdosta area and Eastern Big
Bend Florida.
The strong to severe storms should be out of the region around noon.
Some rain or showers may continue in the afternoon. Highs will be in
the mid 60s to the mid 70s.
A Wind Advisory is in effect today with strong westerly winds expected
behind the cold front. Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible
mainly this afternoon and early evening.
.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Sunday]...
In the upper levels a deep trough will move out of the region on
Sunday. At the surface a cold front will be through the region by
this evening. Some wrap around moisture may bring some lingering
clouds until drier air moves in tomorrow afternoon/evening. High
pressure will be overhead tomorrow night and Sunday. POPs will be
very low. Highs will be much cooler in the mid to upper 60s tomorrow
and in the mid 70s on Sunday. Lows will be in the mid to upper 40s.
.LONG TERM [Sunday Night Through Friday]...
East coast trough will continue lifting northeast Sunday with our
area underneath building high pressure at the surface and aloft.
Tranquil weather is anticipated through much of the long term period
which will allow temperatures to moderate into the low to mid 80s
for highs and lows into the low 60s by mid week. The next system
will approach the tri state region late next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
[Through 06Z Saturday]
Strong to severe squall line will cross over the tri state region
overnight through this morning. Timing of the line seems fairly
consistent and used the HRRR and NAM for timing. Again, not much
change in timing from the previous TAF set. Will metwatch and
amend as needed. Expect MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys to accompany this
line. Also added stronger gradient winds in the late morning
through afternoon hours well behind the convective line as winds
shift to the northwest.
&&
.MARINE...
A line of strong to severe storms will move through this morning.
Winds up to 80 mph are possible with these storms. Isolated
tornadoes are also expected. Strong southerly winds will become
westerly and even stronger this morning. A Gale Warning is in
effect this morning until this evening. Frequent gusts up to 40
knots are expected. Seas will peak this afternoon and evening at
8 to 12 feet with occasional seas up to 15 feet.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
A line of thunderstorms will move through the region through the
morning hours. High dispersions above 75 are likely later today
and Saturday. Otherwise no fire weather concerns.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Today's quick moving system will bring about 1 to 1.5 inches of
rainfall to the area. This will not cause widespread flooding
issues. Persistent strong winds from the south-southwest, however,
will cause coastal flooding along the Big Bend coastline from the
Ochlockonee River eastward to the Suwannee River.
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage by calling the office or
tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 73 49 69 46 77 / 90 10 0 0 0
Panama City 70 52 68 52 72 / 40 20 0 0 0
Dothan 67 46 66 46 75 / 40 10 0 0 0
Albany 71 47 65 46 75 / 90 10 10 0 0
Valdosta 76 49 68 47 76 / 90 0 0 0 0
Cross City 75 52 69 48 76 / 90 10 10 0 0
Apalachicola 73 53 69 51 73 / 80 20 0 0 0
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Coastal Flood Warning until 5 PM EDT this afternoon for Coastal
Dixie-Coastal Taylor.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM EDT /9 AM CDT/ this morning to 8 PM EDT
/7 PM CDT/ this evening for Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal
Bay-Coastal Dixie-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-Coastal
Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal Wakulla-Gadsden-Holmes-
Inland Bay-Inland Dixie-Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-Inland
Jefferson-Inland Taylor-Inland Wakulla-Jackson-Lafayette-
Leon-Liberty-Madison-North Walton-South Walton-Washington.
High Rip Current Risk through late Saturday night for Coastal
Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.
High Surf Advisory until 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ Saturday for
Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.
Coastal Flood Advisory until 5 PM EDT this afternoon for Coastal
Franklin-Coastal Jefferson-Coastal Wakulla.
GA...Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening
for Baker-Ben Hill-Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-
Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Grady-Irwin-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-
Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-
Tift-Turner-Worth.
AL...Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening
for Coffee-Dale-Geneva-Henry-Houston.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM EDT /9 AM CDT/ this morning for
Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to
Ochlockonee River FL out to 20 Nm-Coastal Waters From
Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal
waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach FL out 20 NM-
Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola FL out 20
NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton
County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from Suwannee River to
Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Apalachicola
to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Mexico
Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL from 20 to 60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM EDT /9 PM CDT/ this evening to
11 PM EDT /10 PM CDT/ Saturday for Apalachee Bay or Coastal
Waters From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River FL out to 20
Nm-Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl
out to 20 Nm-Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton
Beach FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to
Apalachicola FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach
to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from
Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters
from Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-
Waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL
from 20 to 60 NM.
Gale Warning from 10 AM EDT /9 AM CDT/ this morning to 10 PM EDT
/9 PM CDT/ this evening for Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters
From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River FL out to 20 Nm-
Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl
out to 20 Nm-Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton
Beach FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to
Apalachicola FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach
to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from
Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters
from Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-
Waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL
from 20 to 60 NM.
&&
NEAR TERM...McD
SHORT TERM...McD
LONG TERM...Scholl
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...McD
FIRE WEATHER...Scholl
HYDROLOGY...NguyenPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
752 AM EDT FRI APR 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0742 AM TSTM WND GST SAINT GEORGE ISLAND 29.67N 84.86W
04/19/2019 M40 MPH FRANKLIN FL MESONET
MESONET STATION XSTG ST. GEORGE ISLAND
REPORTS GUST TO 40 MPH.
&&
RHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
753 AM EDT FRI APR 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 AM TSTM WND GST 1 NNW APALACHICOLA AIRP 29.73N 85.03W
04/19/2019 M41 MPH FRANKLIN FL ASOS
ASOS STATION KAAF APALACHICOLA REPORTS WIND
GUST OF 41 MPH.
&&
RHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
814 AM EDT FRI APR 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0757 AM TSTM WND GST SAINT GEORGE ISLAND 29.67N 84.86W
04/19/2019 M55 MPH FRANKLIN FL MESONET
MESONET STATION XSTG ST. GEORGE ISLAND
REPORTS GUST TO 55 MPH.
&&
RHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
815 AM EDT FRI APR 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM TSTM WND GST APALACHICOLA 29.73N 84.98W
04/19/2019 M54 MPH FRANKLIN FL BUOY
BUOY STATION APCF1 APALACHICOLA, FL REPORTS
A WIND GUST OF 54 MPH.
&&
RHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
822 AM EDT FRI APR 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0814 AM TSTM WND DMG LUTTERLOH 30.33N 84.25W
04/19/2019 LEON FL EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN ON A HOME NEAR WOODVILLE HWY.
&&
PCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
830 AM EDT FRI APR 19 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0806 AM TSTM WND GST 1 SE TOM BROWN PARK 30.43N 84.20W
04/19/2019 E50 MPH LEON FL NWS EMPLOYEE
ESTIMATED WIND GUST OF 50 MPH.
&&
RHThe Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:31 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A couple of large tree branches blew into the roadway and blocked it.
Multiple trees were blown down outside of Thomasville.
A tree was blown down on Highway 112 and McCarty Road.
Transformers were damaged on Fleming and Green Street.
A tree was blown down near Highway 112 South.
A tree fell on a double wide mobile home in the Clyattville area.
There were at least 10 reports of trees down in Lowndes county.
Trees were blown down in Thomasville.
A power line was downed due to a tree falling on it.
A tree was blown down and blocking one lane of traffic on Douthit Road just east of Highway 33 S.
A tree was blown down across Big Creek Road.
Trees were blown down along Pear Road.
Trees were blown down near Highway 90 and Player Cemetery Road.
Trees were blown down along Morning Glory Road near the bridge.
A mobile home was blown off its blocks along Bethlehem Church Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, 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: 820169, 820170, 820171, 820172, 820173, 820174, 820175, 820177, 820178, 820181, 820182, 820183, 820184, 820185, 820186.