Georgia, 2019

Wildfire in Georgia, May 18 to 31, 2019

May 18 to 31, 2019 · NWS JAX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Wildfire potential was elevated across portions of SE GA and NE FL due to recent rainfall deficits and low ground moisture. Record high temperatures and an extended period of low afternoon humidity created an elevated fire danger despite not meeting locally defined Red Flag Conditions.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

Wildfire potential was elevated across portions of SE GA and NE FL due to recent rainfall deficits and low ground moisture. Record high temperatures and an extended period of low afternoon humidity created an elevated fire danger despite not meeting locally defined Red Flag Conditions. Isolated storms created lightning start fires, including the Perimeter Fire.

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 May 18, 1:21 PM EST, 3 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 1:21 PM EST, 3 hours 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
221 PM EDT Sat May 18 2019

.Short Term.../through Monday/...

High pressure will be east of the region Today, with a dissipating
trough to the north. A few thunderstorms will be possible far
inland SE GA this afternoon, due to diurnal heating coupled with
lingering convergence associated with trough.

The high will be to the northeast on Sunday, with the resultant
onshore flow producing increased moisture and better chances for
convection, especially along the east coast sea breeze. Surface
high pressure will be to the east northeast Monday, with a low
chance for convection along the east coast sea breeze in the
afternoon. This chance is too low for mention at this point.

Temperatures this period will be above normal.

&&

.Long Term.../Monday night through Saturday/...

The heat will build through this period with high pressure aloft
stacked on top of high pressure at the surface. This pattern should
produce enough subsidence to keep the region dry throughout this
period, with temperatures moderating.

Temperatures will be above normal through the week, with highs in
the middle to upper 90s common inland. By Saturday, triple digit
highs may be common inland, with readings around 90 even at the
beaches.

&&

.Marine...

Surface high pressure will be east northeast of the region through
early next week, then overhead from mid week into next weekend.

Rip Currents: SE GA Low Risk through Sunday.
              NE FL Moderate Risk through Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION...

Prevailing VFR conditions expected through the night, except at
KGNV where restrictions in fog will be possible toward dawn
Sunday. Brief restrictions will be possible for coastal TAF sites
Sunday morning into afternoon, due to isolated showers and
thunderstorms. This activity is expected to work its way west
toward KGNV in the afternoon.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG  64  89  67  93 /  20  20   0  10
SSI  73  81  72  86 /  10  20  10   0
JAX  67  86  69  90 /  10  20  10  10
SGJ  71  83  70  86 /  10  20  10  10
GNV  63  90  67  91 /  10  20  10  10
OCF  63  89  67  91 /  10  20  10  10

&&

.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
GA...None.
AM...None.
&&

23

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Northern Ware

When
May 18, 5:15 PM EST to May 31, 11:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Ware forecast zone
Reported by
Park/Forest Service
Coordinates
31.054, -82.424 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Compartment #1 fire was started by a lightning strike on Saturday May 18th. The fire quickly increased in intensity around 2 pm on Sunday May 19th due to hot and dry conditions. By May 23rd, the fire was 98% contained and grew to 185 acres. There were not reports of property damage as the fire was held in the Okefenokee NWR. On 6/6, the fire was 100% contained.

What these are

Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Georgia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2019

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: 819126.