Damaging Winds in Florida, January 11, 2020

Name: Damaging Winds in Florida, January 11, 2020
Start: 2020-01-11T16:15
End: 2020-01-11T18:25
Location: Florida

January 11, 2020 · NWS TAE · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

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.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $8,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 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.

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 11, 1:48 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 11, 1:48 PM CST, 2 hours 27 minutes before

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...Wool

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 11, 11:50 AM CST, 4 hours 25 minutes before

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.

&&

Local storm report, Jan 11, 3:50 PM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
450 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020

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

0447 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EARLYTOWN               31.13N 86.13W
01/11/2020                   GENEVA             AL   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            COFFEE COUNTY REPORTING TREES ACROSS THE
            ROAD ON HWY 52.

&&

FD

Local storm report, Jan 11, 3:53 PM CST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
453 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020

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

0449 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSE RICHBURG          31.38N 85.95W
01/11/2020                   COFFEE             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES AND LIMBS DOWN IN AND AROUND ELBA.

&&

FD

Local storm report, Jan 11, 3:57 PM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
457 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020

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

0447 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KINSTON                 31.22N 86.17W
01/11/2020                   COFFEE             AL   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            COFFEE COUNTY REPORTING TREES ACROSS THE
            ROAD ON HWY 52.

&&

FD

The radar

The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walton

When: January 11, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Walton County, 1.5 mi SSE of Piney Grove
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 30.780, -86.110

A tree was blown down at 83 Institution Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Holmes

When: January 11, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Holmes County, 0.59 mi W of New Hope
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 30.950, -85.880

Three trees and one power line were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Holmes

When: January 11, 4:36 PM CST
Where: Holmes County, Pittman
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.940, -85.820

A tree was blown down along with a power outage near the Pittman community.

Thunderstorm Wind, Holmes

When: January 11, 4:49 PM CST
Where: Holmes County, 1.37 mi WSW of Ards Crossroads
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.940, -85.710

A tree was blown down onto a power line on TJ Mitchell Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Holmes

When: January 11, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Holmes County, 0.69 mi N of Bonifay
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 30.790, -85.680

A tree was blown down near Bonifay.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: January 11, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.38 mi N of Vernon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.640, -85.710

A tree was blown down on Pate Pond Road about 2 miles off of Highway 79 north of Vernon.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: January 11, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.59 mi W of Bascom
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 30.920, -85.120

A power line was blown down on Wintergreen Road and Basswood Road.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, January 2020

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: 872486, 872487, 872488, 872489, 872490, 872491, 872493.