Pre-dawn severe thunderstorms developed across SE GA on the northern side of a lifting warm front across N Florida. Elevated instability and strong dynamics coincided over SE GA ahead of a surface low that track eastward from the FL panhandle toward the local forecast area through the morning hours.
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 JAX wrote it up.
Pre-dawn severe thunderstorms developed across SE GA on the northern side of a lifting warm front across N Florida. Elevated instability and strong dynamics coincided over SE GA ahead of a surface low that track eastward from the FL panhandle toward the local forecast area through the morning hours. Through the late morning hours, the shortwave trough aloft lifted northeast toward the mid-Atlantic coastline into the afternoon. This pulled a very strong low level jet of 50-70 kts NE as well, but continued to produce a favorable environment for severe storms through midday as the warm front lifted north across SE GA placing NE FL in the warm sector under strong dynamics for severe storm potential.
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 Apr 20, 2:10 AM EST, 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
310 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2020
...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE AREA THROUGH 11 AM...
.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...
Before 8 AM...Multiple rounds of thunderstorms to continue over
southeast Georgia and the Suwannee Valley and I-10 corridor in FL.
A strong frontal system will continue to sweep across the Deep
South through early Mon morning. The associated surface low is
along the coast of the FL Panhandle as of 06Z and the mid and
upper level shortwave feature aloft powering lie back to its
northwest over Nrn MS/AL. A wavering frontal boundary drags east
from this area of low pressure across southern AL and GA, hovering
near the FL/GA line near the east coast. This boundary is lifting
back as a warm front. A sharp instability gradient is associated
with this boundary, with SBCAPE <500 J/kg in the cooler, worked
over air mass to its north (where convection had been firing
throughout the daytime Sunday) and SBCAPE of 2000-3000 J/kg
behind it over the Suwannee Valley. For now, most convection is
firing up north of this boundary and is more elevated, but any
storms that develop along or to the south of the front as it moves
northeast this morning will likely be surface-based and could
pose a higher threat for tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail. As
the deep low pressure system continues to sweep into the southeast
(with the shortwave trough moving aloft of Nrn AL/GA), the LLJ
will tighten up, bringing 70 kt winds over SE GA...50 kt winds
over the Suwannee Valley around 4 AM. This will mark our
transition into the highest potential for those damaging winds of
70 mph and tornadoes, as well as larger hail. With multiple rounds
of storms over southeast GA through the morning (after multiple
rounds during the day Sunday), rainfall accumulations could be up
around 4-6" near the Altamaha River, which could cause flash
flooding.
As we continue through the late morning hours, the shortwave aloft
will begin to lift northeastward, eventually swinging off the mid-
Atlantic coastline in the afternoon. This will pull the jet and
the most favorable dynamics for severe weather northeastward
toward the coastal Carolinas. Still, during the transition period
between around 8-11 AM with the entrance to the LLJ over the
region, there will still be a lingering threat for severe weather
including tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail. By the afternoon, a
significantly weaker (broken) line of storms should be racing
south through our north-central FL counties and a cooler, drier
air mass will be pushing into southeast GA. Both ahead of and
behind the front Monday, breezy winds are expected with gusts to
30-35 mph possible.
.SHORT TERM [Tuesday Through Wednesday]...
Low level ridge of high pressure will build eastward Tuesday
through Wednesday, rendering drier, cooler conditions in the wake
of the strong low pressure system bringing today's storms. Daytime
highs will be in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Overnight lows will be
in the mid-upper 50s Tue night, low 60s Wed night.
.LONG TERM [Thursday Through Monday]...
An upper level shortwave over the lower MS Valley will swing
across the TN Valley Thurs night. At the surface, this will lead
to another frontal system moving across the southeast Thurs-Fri
morning. Then Sat-Sun, yet another low pressure system will affect
the region. Long range models diverge on timing with that weekend
system, so will continue chance for storms in the forecast through
the weekend. &&
.AVIATION...
[Through 06Z Tuesday]
Showers and thunderstorms with conditions bouncing around MVFR-IFR
will affect SSI overnight to around 15Z Monday. The convection
will sink SE ahead of a cold front into NE FL and affect TAF
sites in NE FL between 13-17Z. Winds will increase from the SW
overnight to 15-20 knots after 06z with higher gusts. As the front
and low level jet are at their closest approach between 08-15Z,
low level wind shear is expected at all TAF sites. Wind will
shift to the NW with the frontal passage late in the morning
through the afternoon Monday. Gusty winds will continue through
the afternoon, finally lowering around 00Z.
&&
.MARINE...
A cold front will push through the area today, possibly bringing
strong to severe thunderstorms to the coastal waters this morning.
Outside of storms, prevailing southwest winds will be around 20-25
kts with occasional gusts to gale force. Winds will become more
northerly behind the front and windspeeds will weaken through the
afternoon. High pressure to our north will move west to east
Tuesday and Wednesday, then our next frontal system will approach
on Thursday, bringing a return of south winds around 15 to 20 kts.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
As a deep low pressure system treks across the Deep South this
morning, multiple rounds of thunderstorms capable of producing
damaging wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes will move through
south GA and north FL near the I-10 corridor. Outside of storms,
strong winds are anticipated today and Monday. With elevated
transport winds and mixing heights, afternoon dispersions will
peak over 75 across much of north FL and in portions of southern
GA today, then across most of south GA on Tuesday. Tuesday will be
dry but not quite red flag criteria dry, with min RH values in
the low 30s to low 40s. Wednesday will be drier, dipping into the
upper 20s in SE GA, but winds will be lower so no red flag
conditions are forecast.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
River flood warning now in effect for the Altamaha River at Baxley
and Charlotteville, which are both expected to reach minor
flooding within the next 24 hrs.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 79 56 80 54 79 / 70 0 0 0 0
SSI 80 63 80 60 74 / 80 0 0 0 0
JAX 84 63 85 60 79 / 70 0 0 0 0
SGJ 85 64 82 61 78 / 80 0 0 0 0
GNV 84 61 84 58 84 / 80 0 0 0 0
OCF 84 61 85 58 85 / 80 0 0 0 0
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
GA...Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT this morning for Appling-Bacon-
Coffee-Jeff Davis-Wayne.
AM...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon for 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.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM EDT this afternoon 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.
&&The Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:26 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on Lindsey Merritt Road. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree and power lines including a utility pole were blown down near Raybon Road West of Highway 301.
A tree was blown down in Hortense along Highway 32.
A tree was blown down near the Shady Acres Mobile Home Park. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down in Nicholls along Flynn Road.
Outdoor property was blown over by thundestorm winds. Time of damage was based on radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, April 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: 878458, 878459, 878460, 878461, 878462, 878463.