A line of severe storms ahead of a strong cold front moved across the tri-state area during the morning hours of February 16th. Several reports of trees and power lines down were received.
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 TAE wrote it up.
A line of severe storms ahead of a strong cold front moved across the tri-state area during the morning hours of February 16th. Several reports of trees and power lines down were received.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 16, 1:24 AM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
224 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
...New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER, HYDROLOGY...
.NEAR TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 220 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
A potent squall line is entering southwestern Alabama as of 2 AM
ET/1 AM CT. Meanwhile, instability showers have developed over
parts of southeast Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, but haven't
been strong enough to warrant more than monitoring. The kinematics
are very impressive. The VAD wind profiles for EVX and EOX radars
show about 45-55 kt winds about 2,000-3,000 ft above the surface.
This helps increase the storm relative helicity values up to
300-400 m2/s2, which is very impressive and supportive of
supercellular develop. In fact, it's possible that we may see a
few isolated supercells develop ahead of the main squall line that
would produce tornadoes. While our area is not within the risk
area for strong tornadoes (EF2 or greater), it cannot be ruled out
given the strong wind field. Instability is also increasing as
temperatures have overperformed so far tonight. Temperatures are
in the lower 70s with dew points in the mid-60s to near 70.
Instability is only forecast to increase as the line approaches up
to near 1000 J/kg. Thus, the squall line and any supercells ahead
of the line will be very capable of producing damaging wind gusts
and tornadoes. This line will race across the area, reaching
southeast Alabama between 3 and 4 AM CT, then the Panama City to
Albany by 6 AM CT/7 AM ET, Tallahassee-Valdosta line by 9 AM ET,
and the southeast Big Bend around 11 AM ET. Please have multiple
ways to get warnings through the morning hours and be prepared to
take shelter quickly as these storms will be racing through the
area.
With the strong low-level jet in place, wind gusts ahead of the
storms will be around 35-45 mph, and a Wind Advisory continues for
the entire area through 1 PM ET/12 PM CT. Behind the storms,
winds will subside with gusts around 20-30 mph out of the
northwest. Some cooler air will filter in immediately behind the
storms, but we may bounce back up in temperatures this afternoon
to the upper 60s and lower 70s under mainly sunny skies.
Much colder air moves in tonight with lows crashing into the mid
30s to lower 50s. With winds still elevated some tonight, wind
chills will drop into the upper 20s to lower 30s, not quite cold
enough for Cold Weather Advisories.. The winds and drier air will
prevent frost development.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Monday through Tuesday night)
Issued at 220 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
Following the cold front on Sunday, the temperatures on Monday
will begin in the mid to upper 30s. The afternoon will be cool
with highs in the upper 50s in our GA and AL counties, and low 60s
for the FL Panhandle and Big Bend. Behind the cold front, surface
high pressure will build and expand over our region and zonal
flow aloft. Temperatures will remain cool, but a slight warmup is
expected for Tuesday with highs in the low to mid 60s and low 70s
for the Big Bend. Overnight temperatures will be in the mid to
upper 30s, along with frost development for our GA and AL
counties.
Over the western Gulf and Southern Plains, an upper level
shortwave trough and a surface low will traverse east and bring in
our next chance for rain for the start of the Long Term.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday through Saturday)
Issued at 220 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
There's a quick moving shortwave along with a Gulf low that will
skim along the coast, bringing showers, with potentially heavy
rainfall, to our region for Wednesday. A widespread 1 to 2 inches
can be expected during the day. The WPC has highlighted the entire
CWA in a Marginal (level 1 of 4) Risk for Excessive Rainfall for
Wednesday. Severe weather is not likely at the moment, as the
instability is forecast to remain offshore. PoPs for Wednesday
range from 90-100%. Temperatures on Wednesday will be on the cool
side, due to rain and cloud cover, with highs in the low 60s for
AL and GA counties, and upper 60s to low 70s for the FL Panhandle
and Big Bend. After the rain moves through, a strong Arctic cold
front will push into the region, quickly shifting our winds to
northerly by Wednesday afternoon. Our temperatures will fall
during the overnight hours with Thursday morning lows in the mid-
upper 30s and low 40s. Although skies will be clearing on
Thursday, cold air advection will be dominating keeping our
temperatures cool with highs in the 50s. Friday morning is
expected to be the coldest with the morning lows in the low 30s
for our AL and GA counties, and mid to upper 30s for our FL
counties. We can expect a slow yet gradual warmup as we head
towards the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1206 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
MVFR to IFR cigs are ongoing at most terminals except VLD where
skies are SKC. Expect cigs to lower there in the next few hours.
Winds will strengthen through the night with gusts of 20-30 kt
common. The LLJ aloft will also create wind shear concerns with
45-50 kt winds at 2 kft. The squall line will approach DHN by 10z,
ECP and ABY around 11z, TLH around 13z, and VLD around 14z. Have
included tempos for gusts up to 40 kt, but 50+ kt wind gusts are
possible in severe storms. Cigs quickly become VFR after the
storms with winds shift out of the W/NW. Skies clear after 00z
with lighter NW winds around 10kt.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 220 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
A strong line of showers and thunderstorms will move across our
marine zones this morning through the afternoon. Gusty winds of 40
kts can be associated with the front, with higher gusts possible
with thunderstorms. Waterspouts may be possible with this system.
A Gale warning is in effect through this morning with Advisory
level conditions to follow as the system exits the region. Boating
conditions will become briefly favorable during the day on Monday
into Tuesday. Our next storm system on Wednesday will bring
unfavorable conditions once again that will likely keep advisory
level conditions possible heading into the weekend.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 220 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
A strong cold front will pass the districts on Sunday morning. It
will be accompanied by a squall line of severe thunderstorms
moving from west to east late tonight and Sunday morning. In
advance of the front this evening, dense fog will move into
coastal districts along Apalachee Bay. Strong southerlies will
develop later tonight in advance of the squall line, with gusts
near 40 mph likely. Behind the cold front on Sunday afternoon, a
cooler and drier air mass will get ushered in by strong northwest
winds. North winds will decrease on Monday, then clock around
easterly on Tuesday as high pressure moves by to the north.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 220 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
Today's rain shouldn't bring much of a flooding concern and the
Flood warning that was for the Apalachicola River at Blountstown
is no longer forecast to enter into Flood, and has since been
cancelled.
Our next system on Wednesday will bring the concern for flooding.
Heavy rain of 1-3 inches, with isolated higher amounts is
forecast, and given the pre-existent conditions, our rivers are
expected to rise. The rain can also bring localized flooding to
urban and poor drainage areas.
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage by calling the
office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 73 39 60 38 / 90 0 0 0
Panama City 72 39 60 41 / 80 0 0 0
Dothan 65 34 55 35 / 60 0 0 0
Albany 70 34 55 34 / 90 0 0 0
Valdosta 71 38 59 37 / 90 0 0 0
Cross City 72 41 64 38 / 90 0 0 0
Apalachicola 73 41 59 45 / 90 0 0 0
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 1 PM EST /noon CST/ this afternoon for
FLZ007>019-026>029-034-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134.
High Rip Current Risk through this evening for FLZ108-112-114-
115.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for FLZ108-112.
GA...Wind Advisory until 1 PM EST this afternoon for GAZ120>131-
142>148-155>161.
AL...Wind Advisory until noon CST today for ALZ065>069.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM EST this afternoon for GMZ730-
755-765-775.
Gale Warning until 9 AM CST this morning for GMZ750-752-770-772.
&&
NEAR TERM...Young
SHORT TERM...Montgomery
LONG TERM....Montgomery
AVIATION...Young
MARINE...Montgomery
FIRE WEATHER...Young
HYDROLOGY...MontgomeryPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
526 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0523 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 E Dale County Lake 31.48N 85.60W
02/16/2025 Dale AL 911 Call Center
Sheriff deputy called in a tree down at HWY
105 and Faust Ave.
&&
JMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
529 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0527 AM Tstm Wnd Gst Hanchey Field 31.34N 85.66W
02/16/2025 M46 MPH Dale AL Mesonet
Weatherflow station measured 46 mph wind
gust.
&&
JMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
531 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0526 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 E Blackwood 31.38N 85.37W
02/16/2025 M44 MPH Henry AL Mesonet
Ambient station measured 44 mph wind gust.
&&
JMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
535 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 SE Edwin 31.65N 85.35W
02/16/2025 M43 MPH Henry AL Mesonet
Weatherflow station near Edwin measured 43
mph wind gust.
0530 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SW Cairns Aaf 31.27N 85.72W
02/16/2025 M40 MPH Dale AL Mesonet
Fort Rucker (Novosel) weattherflow station
measured a 40 mph wind gust.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
540 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0448 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 N Turner Crossroads 31.34N 85.97W
02/16/2025 M57 MPH Coffee AL Trained Spotter
Trained spotter measured 57 mph wind gust
near New Brockton.
&&
JMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
544 AM EST Sun Feb 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0534 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 N De Funiak Springs 30.74N 86.12W
02/16/2025 M44 MPH Walton FL Mesonet
WeatherSTEM station measured 44 mph wind
gust at Walton High School.
0540 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ENE Napier Field 31.32N 85.44W
02/16/2025 M46 MPH Dale AL Mesonet
WeatherFlow station measured 46 mph wind
gust.
&&The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:50 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down onto a power line near 1231 Highway 179.
A tree was blown down on Rock Hill Road near Oti Road.
Several trees were blown down across the northern part of Jackson county.
A tree was blown down onto Brown Dr at Wynn Dr in Chipley.
Several trees were blown down in the southern part of Jackson county.
An Ambient weather station measured a wind gust of 58 mph.
A tree was blown down onto Salley Brown Road.
An off duty NWS employee reported a tree down onto a power line on Thomasville Road near Dorothy B Oven Park.
Five pine trees were snapped.
The Leon County Emergency Manager reported a tree down on Natural Bridge Road at Whisper Ridge Way.
A tree and a power line were blown down on Old Lloyd Road near Monticello Ave.
A tree was blown down onto Doctor MLK Jr Memorial Road.
Fallen trees or limbs resulted in a power outage near SE President's Street and SE Sullivan Ave as reported on the Duke Energy Outage map.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, February 2025
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: 1228929, 1228930, 1228931, 1228932, 1228933, 1228934, 1228935, 1228936, 1228937, 1228938, 1228939, 1228940, 1228943.