Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Florida, August 4 to 5, 2024

Widespread downed trees and powerlines were reported across the county. A tree fell on a home and caused unknown damage. A road was reported to be washed out. 4.56 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer in Hollister during Debby. The AWOS site at Palatka Airport (K28J) measured a peak wind gust of 47 mph on 8/5 at 12:35 PM.

Widespread impacts due to major flash flooding were reported across Columbia county. 12.55 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer at Lake City 7.9 SSW during Debby. Wind gusts between 40-48 mph were observed during Debby.|On 8/4 around 8 PM, Columbia County EM and Storm Spotters reported an observed tornado on the ground off HWY 441 near Lake City Airpark and then it crossed I-75 about 3-4 miles south of Lake City. Along the Columbia - Suwannee county line (SW Alfalfa Ave), a home suffered complete destruction of their roof, nearby structures/out-buildings collapse and large tree branches snapped off and were tossed across the yard. On 8/5 at 9:52 pm, Columbia county EM reported State Road 240 in Lake City was washed out and would be closed for an|extended period due to flooding. One submerged vehicle was reported. State Road 247 and Peacock Terrace were closed due to flooding. Trees also snapped at the trunk near Alligator Lake.

Multiple road closures were reported due to downed trees and powerlines across roadways. Measured gusts ranged from 40-54 mph between 2 am on 8/5 through 7 am on 8/5. Wind damage started to impact the county during the evening of 8/4. At 8 pm local time, a tree was blown down near NW 43rd Street in Gainesville. By 9:13 pm local time, all lines of State Road 24 in Gainesville had to be closed due to a downed tree. Fallen trees were also reported blocking all lanes along SR-222. Fallen trees and downed power lines were also reported across the University of Florida campus. In Gainesville and Alachua, a number of homes suffered minor to major damage due to flooding, and several trees fell onto homes. On 8/5 at 8:11 am EDT, State Warning Point relayed a report that there was damage to a residence in Alachua due to a tree of unknown size that destroyed the home, but with no injuries. About 8.75 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer at Brooker 1.6 SW during Debby. On the University of Florida campus, the EM relayed that there were several trees blown down, minor roadway flooding at times and water flooded into a few buildings. The WeatherStem on campus measured 7.19 inches of storm total rainfall and the highest wind gust was 54 mph during the early morning hours of 8/5. At the Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, the EM reported significant water damage was reported at several campus buildings and downed tree limbs and wires were blown down.

Several inches of water was reported across Southern States Nursery Rd in Macclenny. The St. Marys River near Macclenny reached major flood stage and peaked at 19.71 ft on Aug. 7th. 9.67 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer at Glen St. Mary 4.4 SW during Debby.

Keystone Heights Airport AWOS measured gusts between 40-52 mph during Debby. 6.22 inches of rainfall was measured by a COOP observer at 2.0 NE New River during Debby. The peak gust of 52 mph was measured at 3:35 am on 8/5 local time.

Multiple roads were inundated with floodwaters from Black Creek including Lazy Acres Rd and Scenic Dr. North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg rose to moderate flood stage and crested at 20.13 ft on Aug. 6th. South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms rose to minor flood stage and crested at 15.54 ft on Aug. 6th. A large oak tree split at the trunk and fell across a lawn in Orange Park. There were two trees that fell and hit|homes and 15 residents reported storm damage to the county. 5.02 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer at Keystone Heights 10.0 NE during Debby.

Multiple downed trees and powerlines were reported blown down across the county. A tree snapped and fell on a car causing damage in Riverside. A large tree uprooted and fell on a house causing roof damage along Ribault Scenic Dr. Edgewood Ave was closed due to flooding. Wind gusts between 40-62 mph were observed during Debby. 6.29 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer at Jacksonville 11.3 WNW during Debby.

SR-26 was closed at the Gilchrist and Alachua County line due to flooding. SR-47 from NE CR-340 to SE CR-232 was closed in Gilchrist County due to downed trees, powerlines, and flooding. Peak wind gust of 42 mph was measured by 0651W 4.7 W Newberry WEATHERSTEM) on 8/5 at 5 am local time. 10.32 inches of rainfall was measured by a|CoCoRaHS observer at 5 W Newberry during Debby.

Tropical cyclone wind gusts impacted the county on 8/5. Wind gusts between 40-54 mph were observed during Debby. At 5:58 pm on 8/4, the mesonet at Marineland measured a wind gust of 54 mph. At 6:20 am on 8/5, the station measured 41 mph wind gusts. Flagler county EMA reported a few trees were downed in Palm Coast and Bunnell.

The county experienced gusts of tropical storm force and flooding rainfall with 11.63 inches of rainfallmeasured by a CoCoRaHS observer at White Springs 0.3 NW during Debby. Wind gusts between 41-44 mph were observed during Debby. At 6:20 am local time on 8/5, a mesonet station 3 miles SSE of Jasper measured wind gusts of 44 mph. At 6:30 am, a mesonet station 6 miles NE of Suwannee Springs measured a wind gust of 41 mph.

AWOS station KOCF Ocala Airport gusted to 41 mph during Debby on 8/5 at 1:14 am local time. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 9.37 inches of rainfall at Micanopy 3.6 SSW during Debby.

Nassau County Emergency Management reported that Stokes Road bridge was closed due to being inundated by river flooding on the Georgia side of the St. Marys River. St. Marys river also flooded the Scott’s Landing boat ramp and nearby sheds at St. Marys river campground. The St. Marys River near Macclenny reached major flood stage and peaked at 19.71 ft on Aug. 7th. The St. Marys River at Traders Hill reached|major flood stage and peaked at 16.17 ft on Aug. 10th. Zidell Road in Callahan was closed due to deep floodwaters making it impassable. A car was also stranded in the floodwaters. CR-119 and CR-121 were reported flooded but passable. 9.27 inches of rainfall were reported in Hilliard, FL during Debby. The AWOS station KFHB Fernandina Beach gusted to 46 mph.

Wind gusts between 50-58 mph were observed during Debby and 7.28 inches of rainfall was measured by a CoCoRaHS observer at Sawgrass 0.0 E during Debby. On 8/4 at 9:10 pm local time, the mesonet station in downtown St. Augustine measured a wind gust of 44 mph in an outer rainband.

Suwannee was the most heavily impacted county in the NWS Jacksonville area as the eyewall of Debby crossed over the county through the day on 8/5. Widespread flash flooding occurred with water inundation into structures and swift water rescue deployments. Most of the City of Live Oak was flooded and the southern end of the county was inaccessible for some time after the storm. Most businesses in the city of|Live Oak were flooded and a major county road was completely washed out near the Community of Wellborn. U.S. Highway 90 was closed for about 36 hours. The Miami-Dade Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team was deployed to the southern end of the county with the initial push south and a large Incident Management Team (IMT) effort was set up in Live Oak. Extensive tree and structure damage was observed county-wide. Major main stem river flooding was occurring on both the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers. On 8/5 at 3:40 am local time, a wind gust of 40 mph was measured in Dowling Park and at 4:40 am the gusts were 41 mph. By 5:10 am, the gusts strengthened to 48 mph then 49 mph at 6 am. At 6:15 am on 8/5, the Suwannee Airport AWOS gust to 46 mph and at 6:20 am the mesonet in Dowling Park measured a gust of 53 mph. On 8/5 at 12:20 PM, a peak wind gust of 65 mph was observed at FAWN Suwannee Advent Christian Village WeatherSTEM site.

Most of the county's impacts included wind damage and flooding. On 8/5, State Warning Point relayed that the City of Lake Butler reported an ongoing raw sewage release of approximately 3,000-4,000 gallons from the wastewater treatment plant due to a lightning strike on the generator. No storm drains or waterways were impacted. SW CR-231A in Lake Butler was closed due to large fallen trees along the road. 7.22 inches of rainfall was measured by a COOP observer at 3.6 NW Lake Butler during Debby. The EM reported that the WeatherStem station at the county courthouse in Lake Butler measured 9.99 inches of storm total rainfall and had a peak wind gust of 45 mph during Debby. On 8/4 at 7:40 PM, one of Debby’s rainbands produced a severe tornadic thunderstorm. The tornado was rated an EF1 and touched down about a quarter of a mile south of State Road 238 and about a quarter mile east of Southwest County Road 241 and moved northwest towards Southwest 85th Path. The tornado produced EF1 tornado damage at 7:40 PM as it touched down south of State Road 238 by snapping the tree trunk of a large hardwood tree. The tornado proceeded northwest to homes along Southwest 85th Path, overturning a travel trailer, knocking down a wooden fence, and uprooting another hardwood tree. The tornado's last impact was tearing off the roof of a shed along Southwest 85th Path before it lifted. The tornado was on the ground for about 1 minute and was on the ground a distance of just under a quarter of a mile. The tornado had a maximum width of about 20 yards and had maximum winds up to about 93 mph.

Multiple road closures were reported due to downed trees and powerlines across roadways. Measured gusts ranged from 40-54 mph between 2 am on 8/5 through 7 am on 8/5. Wind damage started to impact the county during the evening of 8/4.|Around 2 am on 8/5, the EM reported a tree down on the 4900 block of SW SR-45 in the Newberry area which blocked all lanes. The tree caused a traffic crash which resulted in one injury. Fallen trees were also reported blocking all lanes along SR-24, and SR-26 at NW 242nd St. In High Springs and Newberry, a number of homes suffered minor to major damage due to flooding, and several trees fell onto homes.

The tornado produced EF1 tornado damage at 7:40 PM as it touched down |south of State road 238 by snapping the tree trunk of a large hardwood |tree. The tornado proceeded northwestward to a homes along Southwest |85th Path, overturning a travel trailer, knocking down a wooden fence, |and uprooting another hardwood tree. The tornado's last impact was |tearing off the roof of a shed along southwest 85th Path before it |lifted. The tornado was on the ground for about 1 minute and was on |the ground a distance of just under a quarter of a mile. The Tornado |had a maximum width of about 20 yards and had maximum winds up to 93 |mph.

At 7:56 pm local time, the Columbia County EM reported an observed | tornado on the ground off HWY 441 near Lake | City Airpark. Time estimated via radar and | report. At 7:57 pm, a trained spotter reported an observed tornado | crossing I-75 about 3-4 miles south of Lake | City. Time estimated via report and radar.

State Road 26 was closed near the Gilchrist and Alachua county line due to widespread flooding.

Emergency Management reported flooding of | structures and homes county wide along with | street and road closers with some vehicles | stranded.