A potent pref-frontal squall line crossed the local forecast area during the late afternoon across SE Georgia and continuing eastward exiting the NE Florida Atlantic coast through midnight. There was very strong speed shear over the local area with strong 0-6km shear around 55 knots, 0-1km helicity over 300 m2/s2, and sufficient CAPE for severe weather.
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.
A potent pref-frontal squall line crossed the local forecast area during the late afternoon across SE Georgia and continuing eastward exiting the NE Florida Atlantic coast through midnight. There was very strong speed shear over the local area with strong 0-6km shear around 55 knots, 0-1km helicity over 300 m2/s2, and sufficient CAPE for severe weather. The limiting factor was fairly weak mid-level lapse rates. Widespread wind damage occurred with this line with gusts of 40-50 mph and severe strength bowing segments producing wind damage and gusts of 60-76 mph. A isolated tornado briefly touched down in Waycross.
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 Feb 6, 7:21 PM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
721 PM EST Thu Feb 6 2020
.AVIATION...
[Through 00Z Saturday]
Squall line of TS will move across the terminals between 01-03z
with restrictions of MVFR to possibly IFR. Strong SW winds 15-20
kts with gusts 30-35 kts will continue outside of convection.
Gusts of 40-50 kts expected as storms impacted all terminals.
Included wind shear tonight due to anomalously strong low level
jet of 50-60 kts at 2-2.5 kft agl. Precipitation will rapidly
push east across the terminals through 05-06z, with trailing
showers through 07-08z. Ceilings improve to VFR through sunrise
with just lingering low clouds scouring out through Fri under
breezy and dry NW winds 15G25kts.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION [247 PM EST]...
.NEAR TERM [Through Friday]...
Warm and windy conditions were observed across the area this
afternoon. Temperatures were in the low to mid 80s, and there have
been multiple reports of wind gusts 40-50 mph this afternoon.
Multiple trees were reported down across western portions of
Alachua County due to the high winds. A Wind Advisory continues
for entire region until late tonight.
A squall line was developing to the west of the area early this
afternoon, and this will move through the area late this afternoon
through the late evening hours. Scattered showers and storms were
developing over interior southeast Georgia and the Suwannee Valley
ahead of the main line this afternoon, and isolated strong to
severe storms are possible with this activity. The 18Z sounding
this afternoon showed strong 0-6km shear around 55 knots, 0-1km
helicity over 300 m2/s2, and sufficient CAPE for severe weather
late this afternoon and tonight. The limiting factor has been the
mid-level lapse rates, which were weak on the sounding. The squall
line may produce numerous severe storms north of a line from
Jacksonville to Gainesville (Enhanced Risk of Severe Weather), and
scattered severe storms southward (Slight Risk of Severe Weather).
The main threat will be straight line winds of 50-70 mph. Isolated
tornadoes also cannot be ruled out. The squall line is forecast to
move into the western portion of the area between 4 and 6 pm, and
then it is forecast to race to the southeast and through the
southeastern portion of the area (Flagler County) around midnight
tonight. Rain and embedded storms will linger for a few hours
behind the squall line, with rain ending from northwest to
southeast after midnight.
Temperatures will drop late tonight as skies clear, with
temperatures falling into the mid to upper 40s across interior
southeast Georgia and interior northeast Florida and the lower 50s
for the coastal areas and north central Florida. Breezy to windy
conditions will continue overnight.
The cold front will push south of the state during the day on
Friday, and surface high pressure over the northeastern Gulf of
Mexico will build east northeastward towards the area. Breezy
westerly winds will prevail through much of the day. Highs on
Friday will be cool in the mid to upper 50s across southeast
Georgia and the Suwannee Valley, and the low 60s elsewhere.
.SHORT TERM [Friday Night Through Saturday Night]...
Upper level trough axis will slide eastward Friday night, and
surface high pressure will settle over the area. Clear skies and
light winds will lead to a cool night, with overnight lows in the
low to mid 30s across the interior, and the upper 30s to around 40
degrees at the coast. Another upper trough will swing eastward
across the Ohio Valley and Mid Atlantic states on Saturday.
Surface high pressure over the area will weaken and shift east,
and be replaced by high pressure to the north and northeast of the
area Saturday night. A light onshore flow will develop at the
coast in the afternoon, and highs on Saturday will remain
generally in the low to mid 60s, except upper 60s Marion County.
Overnight lows Saturday night are forecast to be a little warmer
in the low to mid 40s across the interior and in the upper 40s to
around 50.
.LONG TERM [Sunday Through Thursday]...
Zonal flow aloft is forecast for the start of the second half of
the weekend, with surface high pressure east of the Mid Atlantic
and Northeast. A frontal boundary south of the region Sunday
morning will make its way northward through the Sunday night, and
low level moisture will increase across the area. An area of low
pressure will move across the Great Lakes Sunday night into Monday
morning, and then race off to the northeast. Another area of low
pressure will form along the front and move quickly northeastward
to the Mid Atlantic by Tuesday morning. A weak shortwave is
forecast to move along the northern Gulf coast and Florida
Panhandle on Monday, and this will help produce a few showers
across the area. A cold front will also move into the Southeast on
Monday, and then stall well north of the area on Tuesday. An upper
level ridge is then forecast to build across southern Florida and
Cuba through the middle of the week. Highs are forecast to be near
normal on Sunday and then above normal through the middle of the
week with highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s each day.
.MARINE...
Strong south to southwest winds will continue ahead of a strong
cold front, with SCA to Gale conditions prevailing. A strong cold
front will cross the region late this afternoon into this
evening. Strong to severe winds are expected to accompany the
front. High pressure will build from the west southwest late
Tonight into Friday, then overhead Friday night. This high will
move to the east Saturday. A weak cold front will move southeast
across region Saturday night. High pressure will then build to the
north Sunday, and northeast Sunday night. The high will move to
the east Monday. A cold front will move southeast across area
Tuesday.
Rip Currents...Moderate through Friday.
.FIRE WEATHER...
Areas with high dispersions will continue this afternoon with
values well in excess of 75 over parts of northeast FL. Windy
conditions as well with gusts around 45 mph but RH values will
stay well above critical values. On Friday, cooler and drier
behind the front and winds will be westerly at about 15 mph and
gusty, elevated-high dispersions, and RH values possibly down to
around 28-32 percent so will be a fire sensitive day but no red
flags expected at this time.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 46 54 34 62 41 / 100 0 0 10 0
SSI 52 59 41 59 46 / 100 0 0 0 0
JAX 54 61 37 64 44 / 100 0 0 0 0
SGJ 54 62 41 64 48 / 100 0 0 0 0
GNV 49 61 36 66 43 / 100 0 0 0 0
OCF 52 64 37 68 44 / 100 0 0 0 0
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 3 AM EST Friday for Baker-Bradford-Central
Marion-Clay-Coastal Duval-Coastal Flagler-Coastal Nassau-
Coastal St. Johns-Eastern Alachua-Eastern Marion-Gilchrist-
Hamilton-Inland Duval-Inland Flagler-Inland Nassau-Inland
St. Johns-Northern Columbia-Putnam-Southern Columbia-
Suwannee-Union-Western Alachua-Western Marion.
GA...Wind Advisory until 3 AM EST Friday for Appling-Atkinson-Bacon-
Brantley-Clinch-Coastal Camden-Coastal Glynn-Coffee-Echols-
Inland Camden-Inland Glynn-Jeff Davis-Northeastern Charlton-
Northern Ware-Pierce-Southern Ware-Wayne-Western Charlton.
AM...Gale Warning until 3 PM EST Friday 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 3 PM EST Friday 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.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
322 PM EST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG MACCLENNY 30.28N 82.13W
02/06/2020 BAKER FL TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH DIAMATER PINE LIMBS
LITTERING THE ROADS IN MACCLENNY FROM 5TH STREET TO US 90
SOUTH. THERE WERE ALSO POWERLINES DOWN NEAR WOODBINE ROAD
AND WOODBINE CEMETERY.
&&
AENYEDIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
338 PM EST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG LIVE OAK 30.29N 82.99W
02/06/2020 SUWANNEE FL EMERGENCY MNGR
WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE REPORTED ACROSS SUWANNNEE COUNTY
INCLUDING TREES DOWN, POWER LINES DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS
BLOWN. SOME TREES BLOCKED PORTIONS OF ROADS. WIND GUSTS
FROM NEARBY OBSERVATIONS RANGED FROM 35-45 MPH.
&&
AENYEDIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
403 PM EST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0355 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E PALM COAST 29.57N 81.19W
02/06/2020 M43 MPH Flagler FL EMERGENCY MNGR
WIND GUST MEASURED ON HAMMOCK DUNE BRIDGE IN PALM COAST.
&&
AENYEDIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
418 PM EST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 SE TAYLOR 30.38N 82.24W
02/06/2020 Baker FL TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES REPORTED DOWN ACROSS NOEL ROAD AND KYLE PEN ROAD.
&&
JHESSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
420 PM EST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 S MACCLENNY 30.25N 82.12W
02/06/2020 Baker FL TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN ON POWERLINES NEAR JEFF STARLING ROAD AND STATE
ROAD 121.
&&
JHESSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
424 PM EST THU FEB 6 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG MACCLENNY 30.28N 82.12W
02/06/2020 BAKER FL TRAINED SPOTTER
ROOFING TORN OFF OF A BUILDING. REPORTED VIA
TWITTER.
&&
KCThe Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:24 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Storms produced widespread trees down and power lines down across the county. Some local roads were flooded.
Trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
Tri-County Dispatch reported widespread tree and power line damage across Clinch and Atkinson counties.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down. Heavy damage near Antioch Methodist Church. Widespread tree blown down and some structure damage.
Widespread tree and power lines were blown down across the county, including within the Waycross city limits.
Widespread trees were blown down along Highway 32 East through Nicholls. The time of damage was based on radar.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
Trees and power lines were blown down along Highway 203 north of Blackshear.
Numerous trees were blown down in Bristol, Patterson & Blackshear. A power line was also blown down.
Tree limbs were blown down and shingles were blown off of a roof.
A brief EF0 tornado damaged power lines and structures near the CSX Transportation Crossroads on the SSW side of Waycross.
A tree was blown down onto a power line near Nahunta. Power outages occurred in Nahunta.
Widespread trees and power lines were blown down across the county. No major structural damage was reported to homes. The time of damage was based on radar.
A few trees and power lines were blown down across the county. No reports of major damage to homes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2020Warnings in Georgia, February 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: 870717, 870721, 870718, 870722, 870723, 870724, 870725, 870726, 870727, 870728, 870737, 870730, 870736, 870732.