A strong pre-frontal squall line of strong to severe storms moved quickly eastward across SE GA and NE FL during the afternoon and exited off the SE GA coast into the Atlantic waters by the late afternoon and offshore of the NE FL coast by the evening. 5 C/km and high dewpoints into the upper 60s created 500-800 J/KG of CAPE.
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 strong pre-frontal squall line of strong to severe storms moved quickly eastward across SE GA and NE FL during the afternoon and exited off the SE GA coast into the Atlantic waters by the late afternoon and offshore of the NE FL coast by the evening. Strong dynamics with this system included a very strong low-level jet of 45-55 knots and 0-6 km shear of 50-70 knots, which along with good lapse rates aloft around 6.5 C/km and high dewpoints into the upper 60s created 500-800 J/KG of CAPE. These ingredients promoted threat of damaging wind gusts of 50-70 mph or greater, hail, and isolated tornadoes within more intense storms embedded within the Squall line.
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 Jan 9, 12:57 PM EST, 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1257 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
...NUMEROUS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS
EVENING...
...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE, HYDROLOGY...
.NEAR TERM...
Issued at 1255 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
For the latest NE FL and SE GA Daily Key Messages please visit:
https://www.weather.gov/media/jax/briefings/nws-jax-briefing.pdf
This afternoon: Significant Damaging Wind Event along with
Significant Tornado Risk still on track for this afternoon across
all of SE GA and NE FL. Initial Tornado Watch has already been
posted for inland portions of SE GA/NE FL through 2pm, which will
likely be extended to the Atlantic Coast this afternoon. Timing
of event still on track to entering the inland areas around Noon
and exiting the Atlantic Coastal Counties by sunset. Wind Advisory
is already in effect and getting peak wind gusts in the 40-45 mph
range already with peak gradient wind gusts in the 45-55 mph
range still expected through the day. Max temps will surge into
the 70s for all locations which will provide enough instability
for damaging winds of 60-70mph+ in T'storm activity as it pushes
through.
Tonight: Short-range models in agreement for windy conditions to
continue briefly just behind the squall line with sharp pressure
rises along with a few lingering showers until the late evening
hours, then westerly winds subside to breezy levels after midnight
at 10-20mph with occasional gusts to 25-30 mph along with a much
colder airmass pushing temps down around 40F with wind chills
falling to around 30F by sunrise Wednesday morning, but remaining
above Wind Chill Advisory criteria (WC<=25F).
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Wednesday through Thursday night)
Issued at 1255 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
A brief break in the unsettled weather expected Wednesday and
most of Thursday before another complex low pressure system moves
into the area Thursday night. Wednesday's high temperatures will
be in the mid 50s to lower 60s, with lows falling into the mid to
upper 30s across inland southeast Georgia and the Suwannee valley.
Patchy frost will be possible, mainly north and west of Waycross.
Cloud cover will gradually increase throughout the day on
Thursday as a warm front approaches from the south. Thursday
night, the warm front will slowly begin lift across the Florida
peninsula allowing for a nocturnal scattered thunderstorm threat.
A strong thunderstorm cannot be ruled out overnight given the
veering wind profile.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday through next Tuesday)
Issued at 1255 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
During the day on Friday, the warm front will lift across
northeast Florida and southeast Georgia, and a cold front will
trail behind coming in from the Gulf states. This combination will
allow for a severe weather threat, with the Storm Prediction
Center already highlighting Friday for a slight (15-29%) chance of
severe thunderstorms roughly north of I-10. Another impressive
wind field and strong low level shear values will be in place,
with bulk shear values ranging from the 50-60 knot range.
Southwesterly steering flow ahead of this system will bring
sufficient moisture into the area, with PWATs above 1.5 inches and
dewpoints near 70 degrees over northeast Florida expected. Severe
weather concerns will be dependent on how much instability we can
get with heavy cloud cover and temperatures forecast to reach the
lower to mid 70s Friday.
Dry and cool weather is forecast this weekend as high pressure
builds overhead, with highs Saturday in the lower to upper 50s
across NE FL and SE GA, warming up a few degrees area-wide on
Sunday. Saturday night looks like the coldest night of the period,
with potential for widespread frost over most of southeast Georgia
and inland northeast Florida, and a freeze over inland southeast
Georgia. Precipitation and scattered thunderstorm chances and high
temperatures in the mid to upper 60s return on Monday, as a
another low pressure system moves into the region.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1226 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
A squall line ahead of a cold front is approaching area terminals,
with VCTS expected within the next 1 to 2 hours at area terminals.
Non TS winds will remain breezy prior to this line of TSRA
arriving, with gusts of 35 to 45 knots expected. Continued to
include TEMPO wind gusts up to 50 knots and IFR ceilings and low
vsbys as the squall line moves across the area. Isolated gusts
greater than 50 knots this are possible in some severe
thunderstorms expected along the squall line. Conditions will
gradually improve this evening as winds shift towards the
southwest, with all areas expected to return to VFR by about 01 to
03Z. Winds will ease overnight, though remain above 10 knots with
higher gusts area wide through the end of the forecast period.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 1255 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
Solid Gale Warning for Coastal Waters, including Storm Warning
for the offshore SE GA waters into the overnight hours Tonight.
Winds/seas decrease below headline levels on Wednesday into
Thursday as high pressure builds over the waters. Next storm
system pushes quickly into the region for the end of the week and
expect at least Small Craft Advisory conditions developing in SE
flow (warm front lifting Northward) Thursday Night into Friday,
with another strong trailing cold frontal passage expected Friday
Night and strong cold offshore flow continuing on Saturday with
subsiding winds/seas on Sunday as high pressure builds into the
region.
Rip Currents: High rip current risk today in the strong south flow
and surf/breakers of 4-6 ft. Expect offshore flow on Wednesday to
knock surf/breakers down into the 2-3 ft range with a Moderate
risk of rips, likely continuing into Thursday as offshore flow
continues as lighter wind speeds.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1255 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
Coastal Flood Potential: Some Minor Flooding still possible during
high tides this afternoon and evening in the strong Southerly flow
along the SE GA coast as well as in downtown JAX and other
portions of the St. Johns River, similar to a Tropical Storm type
scenario passing just NW of the region. Will keep Coastal Flood
Advisory posted through the evening hours until after the squall
line passes and winds shift more offshore.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG 37 55 37 60 / 10 0 0 0
SSI 41 56 42 59 / 30 0 0 0
JAX 40 58 40 60 / 30 0 0 10
SGJ 43 60 44 63 / 60 0 0 10
GNV 41 59 41 62 / 20 0 0 10
OCF 44 61 42 63 / 40 0 0 10
&&
.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for FLZ020-021-023-
024-030-031-033-035-038-122-124-125-132-133-136>138-140-222-
225-232-236-237-240-325-340-425.
Coastal Flood Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for FLZ124-
125-225-325.
High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for FLZ124-125-133-
138.
High Surf Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for FLZ124-125-
133-138.
GA...Wind Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for GAZ132>136-149-
151>154-162-163-165-166-250-264-350-364.
Coastal Flood Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for GAZ154-
166.
High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for GAZ154-166.
High Surf Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for GAZ154-166.
AM...Gale Warning until 4 AM EST Wednesday for AMZ450-452-454-472-474.
Gale Warning until 1 PM EST this afternoon for AMZ470.
Storm Warning until 4 AM EST Wednesday for AMZ470.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
905 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0824 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Mayport 30.38N 81.42W
01/09/2024 M43 MPH Duval FL AWOS
AWOS station KNRB Mayport Naval Station.
&&
JCHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1012 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0945 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 W Alma 31.54N 82.51W
01/09/2024 M40 MPH Bacon GA Mesonet
Mesonet station UGA41 Alma.
&&
DRDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1114 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Alma 31.53N 82.50W
01/09/2024 M47 MPH Bacon GA ASOS
ASOS station KAMG Alma.
&&
DRDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
122 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1255 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Nicholls 31.52N 82.64W
01/09/2024 Coffee GA Public
Report of trees down and minor roof damage
in Nichols. Possible tornado damage. Time
estimated by radar.
&&
DRDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
137 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Du Pont 30.99N 82.87W
01/09/2024 E80 MPH Clinch GA Storm Chaser
Estimated 80 mph wind gust from hand held
wind device.
&&
JCHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
139 PM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Du Pont 30.99N 82.87W
01/09/2024 Clinch GA Public
Dead tree reported to have fallen through
roof of house in DuPont.
&&
JCHThe Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:47 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county. Most of the damage occurred between 1:30 pm and 2 pm local time.
A large tree was blown down and blocked NW 190th Avenue in High Springs. The time of damage was based on radar data.
A large tree was blown down and blocked NE 140th Street in Waldo. The time of damage was based on radar.
Trees were blown down along State Road 26, beginning near the intersection of State Road 21 and State Road 26 toward Putnam Hall. The time of damage was based on radar data.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines blown down were received from Florahome to Melrose. The time of damage was based on radar.
A brief EF0 tornado with maximum winds near 80 mph produced widespread tree damage just east of Interstate 95 in the Bartram Park area of the Jacksonville Southside. The tornado touched down just west of Bartram Park around |4:08 pm, north of Arching Branch Circle, and tracked quickly |to the ENE across Woody Vine Drive and Roundleaf Drive before|dissipating across a wooded area just west of I-95 around |4:10 pm. There was some minor structure damage to gutters |and window screens, but the majority of damage included |snapped trees and large limbs blown down. There were |some trees were blown down and uprooted, indicative of a |descending rear flank downdraft.
A tree was snapped in a residential area. The time of damage was based on radar data.
A tree was blown down near SW 144th Place. The time of damage was based on radar.
A tree was blown down across the road near the intersection of US Highway 441 and SE 92nd Loop. The time of damage was based on radar data.
A large tree fell causing significant damage to a car and a garage door to a house in Odom's Mill. Photo of damage was relayed via broadcast media.
A tree was blown across State Road 13 south of River Front Park. The time of damage was based on a mesonet wind gusts at Lewis.
A home suffered minor wind damage. Multiple trees were blown down on nearby roads in Satsuma. The time of damage was based on radar data and information from the county EM.
A video of a funnel cloud near Palm Coast was shared.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2024Warnings in Florida, January 2024
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: 1151720, 1151719, 1151721, 1151722, 1151723, 1151732, 1151725, 1151726, 1151727, 1154906, 1151729, 1151730, 1151179.