A strong cold front pushed through the area. Strong low level winds and sufficient instability allowed for a severe squall line to develop ahead of the front with numerous wind damage reports.
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.
A strong cold front pushed through the area. Strong low level winds and sufficient instability allowed for a severe squall line to develop ahead of the front with numerous wind damage reports.
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 Jan 11, 1:48 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
248 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
...SQUALL LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO ENTER FORECAST AREA LATE
THIS AFTERNOON...
.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...
Severe QLCS has entered southern Alabama moving towards our western
CWA over the next several hours. The atmosphere is ripe for this
line to continue its severe characteristics as it reaches SE AL and
the western FL panhandle. SPC has continued the enhanced risk for
this area with the main threat of damaging winds and isolated
tornadoes. Time of arrival into these areas will be later this
afternoon and early evening. There is also development ahead of the
line as well so will need to watch this closely for any development.
The dynamics will move north and slowly away from the area this
evening and overnight at which time the best lift moves with it.
Instability will decrease but good shear will remain. The line will
slowly weaken as it makes it into Albany/Tallahassee areas but still
should remain strong to severe. Timing into these areas will be
early evening into the overnight hours. The line is progged by the
models to move against the ridge and weaken further and possibly
begin to fall apart as it reaches our eastern sections in the
overnight hours.
.SHORT TERM [Sunday through Monday night]...
By 12Z Sunday, the potent short wave will will have lifted into the
northeastern states as another rotates into the Great Plains. These
impulses will be kept away from our forecast area by deep-layer
ridging to our southeast. As the forcing flees northeastward, the
cold front will rather abruptly come to a halt about half to 2/3 of
the way across our forecast area by daybreak. It will then retreat
northwestward as a warm front all the way to the Tennessee Valley by
12Z Tuesday. This pattern will keep temperatures well above normal
with highs mainly in the 70s and lows around 60 or so. A few spots
will reach 80 degrees Sunday and Monday south and east of
Tallahassee and Valdosta. The warm humid air mass and proximity of
the front will result in scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms across the forecast area Sunday. By Monday, highest
PoPs will be across our northern zones as the front retreats.
.LONG TERM [Tuesday Through Saturday]...
Deep layer ridging over the Gulf of Mexico will keep temperatures
well above seasonal levels all week with high ranging from the
mid 70s to around 80 degrees. The front will push back south
toward the area and then stall over or just south of us on Friday.
The warm, humid air mass and return of the front will keep PoPs
in the forecast all week with greater chances north than south.
&&
.AVIATION...
[Through 18Z Sunday]
Gusts from the southeast continue and only to get stronger through
this afternoon and evening hours ahead of a severe QLCS currently
entering south Alabama. Used the HRRR and consensus models to
determine timing of the line. There could be showers and storms
ahead of the line as well and kept VCSH for this purpose. Winds
could be in excess of 50 knots in storms along the line.
&&
.MARINE...
Strong onshore flow ahead of a front will bring occasional gale-force
gusts into the early evening. Winds will diminish quickly overnight
as a front briefly enters the waters. Once the front retreats, light
southeast winds will persist for a couple of days with another wind
shift possible later in the week as the front returns to the area.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
A line of strong to severe storms will move through the area this
afternoon and into tonight. Transport winds ahead of this line are
around 40 MPH with mixing heights staying below 2000ft. There are no
fire weather concerns and fog is not forecast at this time.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Although we will be in an unsettled pattern, rainfall totals will
not be sufficient for any flooding concerns beyond the typical
ponding of water on roadways and low-lying areas that is seen during
stronger thunderstorms. As for the rivers, depending on releases
from Woodruff Dam, the Apalachicola River may reach minor flood state
once again early next week.
&&
.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 61 76 61 79 59 / 80 50 20 20 20
Panama City 59 74 64 76 64 / 90 40 40 30 20
Dothan 55 70 63 76 62 / 90 40 50 50 30
Albany 60 73 63 79 62 / 90 60 30 40 30
Valdosta 65 78 62 79 61 / 60 50 10 30 20
Cross City 63 81 62 81 60 / 30 20 10 10 10
Apalachicola 62 73 64 73 62 / 80 30 20 20 20
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until midnight EST /11 PM CST/ tonight for Calhoun-
Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-
Coastal Wakulla-Gadsden-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Franklin-
Inland Gulf-Inland Wakulla-Jackson-Leon-Liberty-North
Walton-South Walton-Washington.
High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for Coastal Bay-
Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.
High Surf Advisory until 4 AM EST /3 AM CST/ Sunday for Coastal
Bay-South Walton.
GA...Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for Baker-Ben Hill-
Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Grady-Irwin-
Lee-Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-
Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.
AL...Wind Advisory until 11 PM CST this evening for Coffee-Dale-
Geneva-Henry-Houston.
GM...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening to 4
AM EST /3 AM CST/ Sunday for Coastal Waters From
Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 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 until 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ this evening for Coastal
Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 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...Scholl
SHORT TERM...Wool
LONG TERM...Wool
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...Wool
FIRE WEATHER...Humphreys
HYDROLOGY...WoolPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1108 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1041 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E SAINT ANDREWS STATE 30.13N 85.72W
01/11/2020 M42 MPH GMZ750 FL MESONET
MESONET STATION XSTA ST. ANDREW BAY.
1100 AM NON-TSTM WND GST DOAK CAMPBELL STADIUM 30.44N 84.30W
01/11/2020 M39 MPH LEON FL MESONET
MESONET STATION 0043W DOAK CAMPBELL STADIUM
(WEATHERSTEM).
0940 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E MACON COMMUNITY PAR 30.49N 84.25W
01/11/2020 M41 MPH LEON FL MESONET
MESONET STATION 1296W 2.0 SW KILLEARN
ESTATES (WEATHERSTEM).
0950 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NW WARD RIDGE 29.79N 85.29W
01/11/2020 M40 MPH GULF FL MESONET
MESONET STATION 0289W 0.5 NW WARD RIDGE
(WEATHERSTEM).
1022 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE TYNDALL AFB 30.07N 85.57W
01/11/2020 M43 MPH BAY FL AWOS
AWOS STATION KPAM TYNDALL AFB.
0856 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NE WEST BAY 30.35N 85.80W
01/11/2020 M43 MPH BAY FL ASOS
ASOS STATION KECP PANAMA CITY.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1250 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG LAKE ELLA 30.47N 84.28W
01/11/2020 LEON FL PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTED A FEW TREES DOWN IN THE
TALLAHASSEE AREA DUE TO STRONG
NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS.
&&The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:19 UTC.
34 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down near the 2400 block of County Road 330.
Trees were blown down on County Road 330 near Newbia Church.
Trees were blown down on County Road 308 west of Double Bridges.
Trees were blown down on County Road 415 near Highway 141.
Trees were blown down on County Road 400 near the airport.
A picture was posted on social media showing a tree blown down along County Road 239.
Trees were blown down on County Road 248.
Trees were blown down on County Road 474.
Trees were blown down across Highway 52.
Trees and limbs were blown down around Elba.
Trees were blown down on County Road 625 near Asbury Church.
Two downed trees were reported between mile markers 25 and 26 on Highway 52 West.
Trees were blown down at Porter Lunsford Road and Ozark Highway.
A picture was posted on social media showing a large tree branch snapped off in a driveway in Enterprise.
Trees were blown down in the area of County Road 715.
Trees were blown down on Highway 167 South at County Road 709.
An A/C unit was struck by lightning along County Road 708, resulting in a fire. Damage cost was estimated.
Numerous trees were blown down.
Trees were blown down at Fort Rucker on Whittaker Road and Andrews Ave.
A tree and a power line were blown down in Skipperville.
Trees were blown down in the Geneva area.
Numerous trees were blown down.
A broken power pole was reported off the Burch Pond substation in the Hartford area.
Trees and power lines were blown down in the Wicksburg area.
Numerous trees were blown down.
Trees were blown down in the Slocomb area.
Trees and power lines were blown down in the Bay Springs area.
A power line was blown down along Highway 134 near the Dothan airport.
A tree was blown down in a yard off Brannon Stand and Fortner Road.
A tree was blown down across Edinburg Drive in the Highlands area.
The Dothan airport measured a sustained wind of 48 mph with a gust to 64 mph.
Stoplights were blown off from their wires on Highway 84 and Westgate Pkwy.
Two trees were blown down on County Road 95 South.
A screen door was ripped off due to strong winds in the Dothan Garden District.
A tree was blown down on County Road 97.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, January 2020
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: 872445, 872446, 872447, 872448, 872449, 872450, 872451, 872452, 872453, 872455, 872456, 872457, 872458, 872459, 872460, 872461, 872462, 872463, 872464, 872465, 872466, 872467, 872468, 872469, 872470, 872471, 872472, 872473, 872474, 872475, 872476, 872477, 872482, 872483, 872485.