Strong to severe storms developed across SE GA and the Suwannee River Valley along a warm frontal zone that was across SE GA on the 12th and drifted southward across the NE FL I-10 corridor into the 13th. Upper level short wave troughs and low level instability along and south of the front brought a couple waves of severe storms across the local area with pockets of locally heavy rainfall.
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.
Strong to severe storms developed across SE GA and the Suwannee River Valley along a warm frontal zone that was across SE GA on the 12th and drifted southward across the NE FL I-10 corridor into the 13th. Upper level short wave troughs and low level instability along and south of the front brought a couple waves of severe storms across the local area with pockets of locally heavy rainfall.
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 Mar 13, 1:45 AM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
245 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE...
.NEAR TERM...
Issued at 242 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
Cold front will move southeast of the area this morning, with
showers and embedded thunderstorms moving out of the region ahead of
passage. High pressure will build to the northwest this afternoon
through Tonight. With increasing subsidence and drier air advecting
into the area, skies will clear from northwest to southeast late
Today into this evening, with mainly clear skies overnight.
Temperatures Today will be near seasonal levels. With cold advection
on northwest flow, lows will be below normal Tonight.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Tuesday through Wednesday night)
Issued at 242 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
Tuesday, mid/upper troughing along the east coast centered near
the Mid Atlantic states will shift into the western north Atlantic
as ridging pattern over the central U.S. moves east behind the
trough over the MS river valley. This will place the heart of the
surface high near Lake Michigan by day's end with steady NW winds
keeping cool air advection in place. High cirrus will pass overhead
as a streak of jet stream winds spread across the region. Highs
will be about 10 to 15 degrees below normal with near 60 degree
readings over SE GA, low/mid 60s over NE FL to the coast and upper
60s over north central FL.
Tuesday night, mostly clear skies expected and light NW winds
should allow for at least patchy frost inland across SE GA and
portions of NE FL along I-10 west of Jacksonville. Lows will be
in the mid 30s over SE GA areas away from the coast, low 40s along
the SE GA coast, mid to upper 30s over inland NE FL with mid/upper
40s at the NE FL coast, and low 40s over north central FL areas.
Wednesday, A shortwave will pass just south of the area, briefly
increasing mid and high level cloud cover through the afternoon,
before clearing out by evening as the shortwave exits into the
Atlantic. Light NW winds will become northerly as the high moves
to the north over the central Appalachians by day's end. With a
cool air advection patten in place, highs will remain well below
normal in the low/mid 60s over SE GA, low 60s at the coast, the
mid 60s over NE FL with upper 60s over north central FL.
Wednesday night, clear skies and light northerly drainage flow
from the high directly north of the region will promote another
chilly evening away from the coast with patchy frost potential
inland over SE GA as lows fall into the mid 30s, upper 30s along
I-10 into the Suwannee river valley while north to northeast winds
off the Atlantic buffer the coast from cooler temps falling only
into the upper 40s to low 50s over the NE FL coast with mid 40s
at the SE GA coast.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Thursday through Sunday)
Issued at 242 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
Troughing in the mid to upper levels over the eastern half of the
country will be the prominent feature Thursday, shifting into the
eastern seaboard Friday as a new trough digs into the central U.S.
This will allow high pressure to settle just east of the region on
Thursday. The high will move to the east Friday with a cold front
moving through the mid south into the deep south stretching down
from a surface low near the western great lakes. The mid/upper
trough over the central US will become a cutoff trough and rotate
east towards the eastern Great lakes allowing the front to move
through the area on Saturday with increasing showers and potentially
a thunderstorm or two over NE FL. Sufficient shear and shortwave
energy will be present that could help strengthen some storms if
enough low level moisture and warm air advection increase over the
area ahead of the cold front, but this potential remains low at
this time. As the cutoff mid/upper level trough spins to the north
of the region and the surface cold shift south of the area, some
over running low level SW winds will keep some chances for showers
over NE FL into Sunday while high pressure building in from the NW
brings cooler air at the surface.
Temperatures will begin the period near normal Thursday afternoon,
and Friday morning, then briefly above normal on Friday afternoon
before cooling back to near Saturday due to clouds and rain, and
then below normal on Sunday. &&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 122 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
Showers with embedded thunderstorms will continue to move east
southeast across the area through the night. The cold front
responsible for this activity will move southeast of the region
late this morning. Restrictions will continue to be possible
through much of the day.
High pressure will build to the northwest in the afternoon with a
gradual trend toward VFR conditions.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 242 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
A cold front will move southeast of the region this morning, with
high pressure then building to the northwest. This high will then
build more toward the north Wednesday, then northeast Thursday. The
high will move to the east Friday, as a cold front approaches from
the west northwest. This front will move southeast across the area
Friday night through Saturday. High pressure will build to the
northwest Sunday.
Rip Currents: Moderate risk of rip currents at all area beaches
today. A high risk of rip currents is expected Tuesday for
Northeast FLorida Beaches with a moderate risk at Southeast
Georgia Beaches.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 68 38 59 35 / 20 0 0 0
SSI 69 44 61 42 / 70 0 0 0
JAX 73 43 64 39 / 70 0 0 0
SGJ 72 47 64 45 / 80 0 0 0
GNV 74 43 66 39 / 80 0 0 0
OCF 76 44 68 40 / 80 0 0 0
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
GA...None.
AM...Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM to 10 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ450-
452-454.
Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 5 AM EDT Wednesday
for AMZ470-472-474.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
115 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
FLZ030-031-136-232-237-130545-
Eastern Alachua FL-Western Clay FL-Union FL-Western Putnam FL-
Bradford FL-
115 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Bradford, north
central Alachua, northwestern Putnam, central Union and southwestern
Clay Counties through 145 AM EDT...
At 115 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lake Butler, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds around 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Starke, Lake Butler, Keystone Heights, Raiford, Worthington Spring,
Middleburg, Worthington Springs, Groves, Beasley and New River.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2989 8245 3007 8243 3007 8176 2980 8179
TIME...MOT...LOC 0515Z 274DEG 43KT 2998 8235
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
23Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
135 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
FLZ021-035-136-222-236-130600-
Eastern Alachua FL-Southern Columbia FL-Western Alachua FL-
Suwannee FL-Gilchrist FL-
135 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Gilchrist, western
Alachua, southwestern Columbia and southeastern Suwannee Counties
through 200 AM EDT...
At 135 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bell, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds around 40 mph and minor flooding due to heavy
rainfall.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor flooding due to heavy rainfall is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Trenton, Bell, Alachua, High Springs, Archer, Newberry and La Crosse.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2970 8296 2970 8294 2977 8295 2980 8292
2981 8293 2983 8289 2988 8287 2990 8290
2989 8292 2992 8292 2985 8237 2948 8242
2948 8255 2954 8256 2953 8265 2956 8266
2956 8275 2958 8278 2958 8295 2961 8297
TIME...MOT...LOC 0535Z 274DEG 49KT 2972 8297
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
23Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
138 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
FLZ033-125-132-133-232-325-130615-
Eastern Clay FL-Coastal St. Johns FL-Western Clay FL-
South Central Duval FL-Coastal Duval FL-Inland St. Johns FL-
138 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern St. Johns,
northeastern Clay and southeastern Duval Counties through 215 AM
EDT...
At 137 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Switzerland, or over Fruit Cove, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds around 40 mph and minor flooding due to heavy
rainfall.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor flooding due to heavy rainfall is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Mandarin, Fruit Cove, World Golf
Village, Fleming Island, Nocatee, Durbin, Vilano Beach and
Switzerland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2992 8126 3001 8176 3016 8175 3018 8132
2998 8125
TIME...MOT...LOC 0537Z 275DEG 30KT 3010 8165
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
23Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
157 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
FLZ031-132-136-137-232-237-130630-
Eastern Clay FL-Eastern Alachua FL-Western Clay FL-Eastern Putnam FL-
Western Putnam FL-Bradford FL-
157 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Bradford, northeastern Alachua, northwestern Putnam and southern Clay
Counties through 230 AM EDT...
At 156 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
capable of producing a landspout near Orange Heights, or near
Keystone Heights, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Landspouts and winds around 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds
could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured
objects.
Locations impacted include...
Palatka, Keystone Heights, Melrose, East Palatka, George's Lake, Lake
Geneva, Florahome, Bostwick, Melrose Landing and Orange Heights.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 2970 8225 2990 8227 2994 8161 2960 8159
TIME...MOT...LOC 0556Z 275DEG 49KT 2979 8214
LANDSPOUT...POSSIBLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
23Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
204 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
FLZ031-035-136-222-236-130630-
Eastern Alachua FL-Southern Columbia FL-Western Alachua FL-
Bradford FL-Gilchrist FL-
204 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central
Gilchrist, southeastern Bradford, central Alachua and south central
Columbia Counties through 230 AM EDT...
At 204 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
High Springs, or 12 miles east of Bell, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds around 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gainesville, Alachua, High Springs, Hawthorne, University Of Florida,
Orange Heights, Gainesville Airport, Newnans Lake, Waldo and Hampton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2967 8281 2990 8271 2986 8207 2959 8210
TIME...MOT...LOC 0604Z 275DEG 49KT 2978 8266
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
23Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
214 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
FLZ033-132-133-137-232-237-130645-
Eastern Clay FL-Coastal St. Johns FL-Western Clay FL-
Eastern Putnam FL-Western Putnam FL-Inland St. Johns FL-
214 AM EDT Mon Mar 13 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of St. Johns, north
central Putnam and east central Clay Counties through 245 AM EDT...
At 213 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Green Cove Springs, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds around 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Saint Augustine, Green Cove Springs, World Golf Village, Saint
Augustine Beach, Durbin, Vilano Beach, Picolata, Switzerland, South
Ponte Vedra and Crescent Beach.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2981 8181 3007 8172 3011 8130 2972 8117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0613Z 274DEG 37KT 2997 8165
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
23The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:51 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ASOS at the Gainesville Regional Airport measured a wind gust of 62 mph.
Trees were blown down along SE 57th Avenue and a trampoline was blown into a neighbor's yard. The time of damage was based on radar imagery.
Multiple trees down and bent in the same direction at the intersection of CR 316 and National Forest Rd 97. Photos relayed from Ocala National Forest, Lake George R.D.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2023
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: 1079016, 1079015, 1079399.