A retrograding upper level ridge and stronger, moist SW steering flow primed an unstable airmass across SE GA during the late evening hours where a few severe strong developed along a leading pre-frontal trough axis aided by a passing mid level short wave trough aloft.
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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 retrograding upper level ridge and stronger, moist SW steering flow primed an unstable airmass across SE GA during the late evening hours where a few severe strong developed along a leading pre-frontal trough axis aided by a passing mid level short wave trough aloft.
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 4, 7:43 PM EST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 843 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021 .UPDATE... Isolated evening convection lingers over Flagler county near the east coast seabreeze. This shower activity should die off as it moves into the coastal waters before midnight. Another area of convection over interior se Ga should continue past midnight as a weakening squall line now near the Al-Ga border moves into our nw counties around midnight. Expect activity to continue to weaken as it moves across se Ga and into ne Fl late tonight with the stronger part of the line remaining north of our area. && .PREV DISCUSSION [715 PM EDT]... .NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]... Hot and breezy day with temperatures already in the low 90s over much of the area and highs reaching near record levels. JAX record maximum temperature for today is 93 set in 2009 which could potentially be tied or broken today (we're already at 92!). Chances for isolated showers and storms this afternoon for areas south of St. Augustine along the sea breeze and along the Altamaha River basin associated with a pre-frontal trough moving through the southeast CONUS. With very warm temperatures, instability is high and there's just enough shear to allow a few isolated storms to become organized enough to produce damaging winds or hail, mainly in inland southeast Georgia. Tonight will be muggy, with lows around 70. Patchy fog and low clouds could develop again in the lower Suwannee Valley tonight and linger into Wednesday morning. .SHORT TERM [Wednesday Through Thursday Night]... A late season cold front currently draped along the lower Mississippi Valley will continue its slow eastward progression through Thursday night. On Wednesday, northeast Florida and coastal Georgia will remain hot and humid side of the front with breezy south-southwesterly winds that will bring a little relief to temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s. Southeast Georgia is forecast to be slightly cooler with highs in the mid 80s, mostly thanks to increased cloud coverage and chances for showers and thunderstorms ahead of the approaching cold front. However if the frontal movement slows, those cooler temperatures may be on the optimistic side. The more heating we get tomorrow, the more we'll destabilize, and with increasing shear ahead of the front, our chances for strong to severe thunderstorms could also increase. The main potential threats would again be damaging wind gusts and hail. The slowly progressing front is forecast to make it's way into southeast Georgia late Wednesday night, then continue to slowly push southeastward through our local area through Thursday night. Along and ahead of the front, there remains the potential for a few storms to produce some damaging wind gusts and hail. Behind the front, a few lingering showers could continue into the evening hours. Temperatures Thursday will peak in the 80s, then drop into the mid 50s to low 60s Thursday night as a much cooler, drier air mass works its way into the region. .LONG TERM [Friday Through Tuesday]... Friday and Saturday will be noticeably cooler and drier as high pressure builds over the area in the wake of that late season cold front. Highs will be in the upper 70s to low 80s Friday and low- mid 80s on Saturday. After a couple days with mostly clear skies, however, the airmass in place will modify and temperatures will climb back into the upper 80s to low 90s by Sunday. Another late season front will begin to develop over the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley Tuesday, leading to isolated to scattered storms ahead of it in southeast Georgia again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Warm temperatures early next week will also mean an isolated chance for seabreeze storms, mainly along the I-95 corridor. .AVIATION...[Through 00Z Thursday] VFR conditions will prevail this evening as isolated convection decreases. The sw flow may advect low clouds and fog in from the Gulf late tonight with MVFR/IFR conditions possible...mainly at GNV 08Z-12z. Have VCSH during the morning hours on Wednesday at TAF sites as weakening convection may move into the area from the west. VCTS after 17z Wednesday. .MARINE... Moderate south-southwest winds are anticipated across the coastal waters through Wednesday night ahead of an approaching front, with winds around 15 to 20 knots over our offshore waters through Wednesday. Rounds of showers and thunderstorms are anticipated through Thursday. The front will push through the region Thursday through Thursday night, bringing north-northwest winds around 15 to 20 knot to our offshore waters. A drier, cooler airmass will move in for the weekend as high pressure builds over the southeastern seaboard. Rip Currents: Moderate risk today with longshore currents. Low risk on Wednesday. .FIRE WEATHER... A frontal boundary will slowly push eastward into the area through tomorrow, pushing through the area Thursday through Thursday night. Ahead of this front, warm, humid conditions will prevail with elevated southwest winds. These stronger winds will make for dispersion indices peaking over 75 across the area today and across northeast Florida tomorrow. RH values will remain above critical thresholds through Thursday, then much drier air will arrive on Friday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 69 84 64 81 54 / 30 70 20 20 10 SSI 72 88 69 81 61 / 10 70 30 40 10 JAX 70 90 69 83 60 / 10 50 40 60 10 SGJ 71 90 71 83 63 / 20 30 40 60 20 GNV 69 89 68 85 58 / 10 30 40 60 10 OCF 71 92 71 88 61 / 10 10 30 50 10 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AM...None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
748 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
GAZ132-149-050015-
Atkinson GA-Coffee GA-
748 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN COFFEE AND
NORTHWESTERN ATKINSON COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM EDT...
* At 747 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm near Alapaha, or 8 miles northwest
of Willacoochee, moving east at 30 mph.
* Winds in excess of 40 mph possible with this storm.
* This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern
Coffee and northwestern Atkinson Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These winds can down small tree limbs and branches, and blow around
unsecured small objects. Seek shelter in a safe building until the
storm passes.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. You can also share your report with NWS Jacksonville on
Facebook and Twitter.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 8314 3147 8312 3150 8310 3151 8308
3157 8306 3160 8294 3137 8289 3135 8310
3139 8311 3140 8314 3143 8314 3146 8315
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 256DEG 26KT 3143 8314
ZIBURASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
919 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
GAZ132-050145-
Coffee GA-
919 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL COFFEE COUNTY UNTIL
945 PM EDT...
* At 919 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm near Jacksonville, or 11 miles north
of Ambrose, moving east at 25 mph.
* Winds in excess of 40 mph possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Pridgen.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These winds can down small tree limbs and branches, and blow around
unsecured small objects. Seek shelter in a safe building until the
storm passes.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. You can also share your report with NWS Jacksonville on
Facebook and Twitter.
&&
LAT...LON 3167 8284 3166 8301 3167 8300 3178 8300
3179 8299 3179 8297 3178 8295 3179 8294
3178 8292 3179 8290 3178 8289 3179 8288
3178 8287 3181 8284
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 250DEG 23KT 3176 8306
ZIBURASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1012 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
GAZ133-050300-
Jeff Davis GA-
1012 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS COUNTY UNTIL
1100 PM EDT...
* At 1012 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm near Snipesville, or 10 miles west
of Hazlehurst, moving east at 35 mph.
* Winds in excess of 40 mph possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Hazlehurst.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. You can also share your report with NWS Jacksonville on
Facebook and Twitter.
&&
LAT...LON 3197 8245 3184 8244 3184 8252 3182 8252
3175 8283 3182 8284 3183 8279 3185 8279
3186 8276 3188 8274 3191 8268 3192 8268
3192 8265 3193 8259 3196 8256 3195 8249
3195 8248 3196 8250 3197 8248
TIME...MOT...LOC 0212Z 254DEG 32KT 3182 8276
ZIBURASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1039 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
GAZ132-149-050330-
Atkinson GA-Coffee GA-
1039 PM EDT Tue May 4 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN COFFEE AND WESTERN
ATKINSON COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 PM EDT...
* At 1037 PM EDT, National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking showers and thunderstorms near Mystic, or 11 miles west
of Fitzgerald, moving east at 45 mph. These storms are expected to
arrive between 11 PM and 1130 PM.
* Winds in excess of 45 mph possible with these storms.
* Locations impacted include...
Douglas, Willacoochee, Broxton, Ambrose and Pridgen.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These winds can down small tree limbs and branches, and blow around
unsecured small objects. Seek shelter in a safe building until the
storm passes.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. You can also share your report with NWS Jacksonville on
Facebook and Twitter.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 8312 3151 8308 3156 8306 3161 8306
3163 8301 3166 8301 3166 8300 3179 8299
3179 8290 3178 8287 3181 8284 3143 8284
3121 8301 3123 8305 3128 8303 3134 8307
3136 8310 3139 8311 3140 8314 3146 8315
TIME...MOT...LOC 0237Z 284DEG 38KT 3165 8344
SHASHYThe Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:23 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A residence off of Green Avenue with awning and gutter torn off. Trees were twisted and snapped on the property. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
Multiple trees were blown down with some power lines between Jessica Lane and Ralston Road, just south of Patterson. The time of the event was based on radar. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for the inclusion of the event in Storm Data.
Trees and power lines were blown down across the Douglas city limits, especially across the north side of town toward Ambrose along State Road 32. Five to six homes were damaged due to trees falling onto the structures.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2021
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: 952803, 952788, 952804.