A frontal boundary began the day nearly stationary near the Florida/Georgia border on the morning of the 2nd, progressing towards south of the region by that same evening. Widespread stratiform rainfall accompanied the front, with some embedded thunderstorms across northeast FL.
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 frontal boundary began the day nearly stationary near the Florida/Georgia border on the morning of the 2nd, progressing towards south of the region by that same evening. Widespread stratiform rainfall accompanied the front, with some embedded thunderstorms across northeast FL. Modest instability ahead of the front, as well as moderate to strong wind shear associated with the base of an upper level trough, supported isolated severe thunderstorms despite convection occurring during the first half of the day.
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 2, 10:45 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 1145 AM EDT Sat May 2 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... For the latest NE FL and SE GA Daily Key Messages please visit: https:/www.weather.gov/media/jax/briefings/nws-jax-briefing.pdf - Isolated Severe Storm Potential for Locations South of I-10. Storm Hazards: Damaging Wind Gusts of 40-60 mph, Frequent Lightning, Hail & Isolated Tornadoes, and Locally Heavy Downpours. Rainfall Amounts Generally in the 0.5 to 1.5 Range. - Moderate Risk of Rip Currents Continues at Area Beaches - Windy with Scattered Thunderstorms Possible on Thursday - Extreme to Exceptional Drought Conditions Continue for Most of Our Area && .UPDATE... A Tornado Watch is now in effect for Alachua, Marion, Bradford, Putnam, Clay, St. Johns, and Flagler counties through 6pm. A couple of tornadoes are possible this afternoon, along with damaging wind gusts near 40-60 mph. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Main Highlights This Period: - Strong to Isolated Severe Thunderstorms Possible Late this Morning through this Afternoon for Locations South of Waycross, GA. Potential Storm Hazards Include Damaging Wind Gusts of 40-60 MPH, Frequent Lightning Strikes, and Heavy Downpours. Lower Probabilities Exist for Tornadoes and Hail. - Rainfall Amounts Today Will Generally Range from 0.5" to 1.5", with Locally Higher Totals Possible Across Southeast GA. - Moderate Risk of Rip Currents at All Area Beaches. Overnight surface analysis depicts a wave of low pressure (1005 millibars) developing along the northern Gulf coast along a stationary frontal boundary that extends across north central FL. Meanwhile, high pressure (1023 millibars) was building southeastward from the Northern Plains states towards the Upper Midwest. Aloft...a weakening shortwave trough traversing the southern branch of the jet stream across the lower Mississippi Valley was being absorbed by a potent shortwave trough that was digging east-southeastward across the Mid-Mississippi Valley towards the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Otherwise, a 160-knot jet streak situated at 250 millibars (around 35,000 feet) was positioned along the Mid-Atlantic coast, placing our region in an area of increasingly diffluent flow aloft. This weather pattern has strengthened isentropic lift north of the stationary frontal boundary for locations in interior southeast GA, where moderate to occasionally heavy showers were impacting locations north and west of Waycross. Multi-layeered cloud cover was otherwise in place area-wide, with a few reports of lower stratus for areas south of Interstate 10. Rainfall has dropped temperatures to to the mid and upper 50s for locations north and west of Waycross in southeast GA, while temperatures elsewhere remain in the 60s, except around 70 for coastal northeast FL, with dewpoints generally in the 60s outside of rain cooled locations. The wave of low pressure developing along the stationary frontal boundary extending from the northern Gulf coast eastward across north central FL will progress quickly eastward this morning, crossing locations just south of Interstate 10 from the late morning through early afternoon hours before moving offshore by mid- afternoon. Strong isentropic lift will continue through early afternoon, compliments of the aforementioned jet streak situated off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Rainfall and thick multi-layered cloud cover should keep the threat for thunderstorms minimal for locations north of Waycross, and model soundings suggest that surface-basd CAPE will remain along or south of I-10 later this morning through the early to mid-afternoon. A 40-50 knot low level west-southwesterly jet will develop over locations along and south of I-10 by the late morning and early afternoon hours as the wave of low pressure traverses the area, with this feature likely strengthening convection that will overspread northeast and north central FL. Strong to isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible from around 11 AM through 4 PM, mainly for locations along and south of I-10. Strong to isolated severe thunderstorms that develop in this environment will be capable of producing downburst wind gusts of 40-60 mph, frequent lightning strikes, and heavy downpours. The Storm Prediction Center has maintained a "Slight" Risk for severe thunderstorm development for locations south of Waycross today. The presence of the frontal boundary will keep low probabilities for isolated tornadoes in place in the Slight Risk area, with bulk shear values of 50-60 knots also providing for low probabilities for large hail as well. Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall and possibly a few embedded elevated thunderstorms this morning across inland portions of southeast GA will likely result in widespread and beneficial rainfall totals around 1 inch, with localized totals of around 2 inches. With the front remaining south of these locations and cloud cover remaining widespread through around sunset, highs will remain in the 60s for locations north of Waycross this afternoon. Rainfall totals elsewhere will generally range from 0.5" to 1 inch, with localized heavier totals possible where stronger thunderstorms develop. Highs elsewhere north of I-10 should climb to around 70, while 80s are forecast for areas south of I-10, and locations in Marion and Flagler Counties could reach 90 degrees. Breezy to windy conditions are also likely to develop in advance of the arrival of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon across north central FL, where sustained speeds of 20-25 mph with frequent 30-35 mph gusts can be expected towards noon today. Cloud cover will decrease from north to south this evening as low pressure strengthens off the southeastern seaboard while accelerating northeastward, dragging a cold front southward through the FL peninsula. Cold air advection and decreasing northwesterly winds could allow for lower stratus clouds to develop towards sunrise across inland southeast GA and northern portions of the Suwannee Valley, where lows will fall to the upper 40s to around 50. Lows elsewhere are forecast to fall into the 50s by the predawn and early morning hours on Sunday. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Main Highlights This Period: - Brief cool down on Sunday - Temperatures begin to warm up once again on Monday High pressure will settle in over the forecast area for the end of the weekend and into the beginning of next week, as the frontal boundary presses southward over the Florida peninsula, bringing dry weather, mostly clear skies, and onshore winds becoming breezier for coastal counties with the diurnal sea breeze. Cooler temperatures will be in place on Sunday with max temps rising into the mid to upper 70s and then warming into the lower to mid 80s by Monday. Overnight low temperatures will similarly warm from out of the upper 40s and lower 50s on Sunday into the mid to upper 50s for the beginning of the week. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Main Highlights This Period: - Dry and warm weather into midweek - Next chance for widespread rainfall around late week Potential for showers and storms will increase by the end of the week as high pressure over the region moves off to the east and convection developing ahead of an advancing cold front pressing in from out of the northwest moves across the forecast area. High temperatures will peak into the 90s by midweek with temps dipping to be more near the seasonal average towards the latter part of the week. && .AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/... VFR conditions will prevail at the regional terminals through at least 11Z. Light showers should approach the SSI terminal towards 12Z, with ceilings expected to deteriorate to MVFR levels of 1,500 - 2,500 feet before 13Z. Heavier showers and a few embedded thunderstorms will then overspread SSI after 14Z, with ceilings likely lowering to IFR. Ceilings are forecast to lower to MVFR at the northeast FL terminals after 13Z, with showers and thunderstorms then impacting the terminals after 15Z, when periods of IFR conditions will be possible. Strong to severe storms are possible, generally during the 16Z-20Z time frame. Heavier showers should depart SSI through around 20Z, with stronger storms being capable of producing downburst wind gusts of 35 knots or higher. Lingering showers should depart the regional terminals before 00Z, with ceilings at SSI lifting to MVFR towards 21Z and towards 22Z at the northeast FL terminals. VFR conditions are then expected by 04Z Sunday. Light north to northeasterly surface winds will prevail at the terminals overnight, with winds then shifting to southwesterly by 15Z at the northeast FL terminals, where sustained speeds will increase to around 15 knots and gusty. Surface winds will remain north to northeasterly through around 16Z at SSI, where speeds will increase to around 10 knots by 15Z. Surface winds will then shift to northwesterly by 22z at the regional terminals, with speeds of 10-15 knots prevailing through around 02Z. Speeds will then diminish to 5- 10 knots towards 05Z Sunday. && .MARINE... Low pressure developing along a frontal boundary situated along the northern Gulf coast will push across our local waters early this afternoon. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will overspread our local waters during the late morning and afternoon hours, with strong to isolated severe storms possible through around sunset. Stronger storms will be capable of producing strong wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes, and possibly a few waterspouts. Southwesterly winds will strengthen after sunrise, with speeds likely reaching Caution levels as winds shift to westerly and then northwesterly this afternoon. The front will shift south of our area tonight, with gusty northerly winds expected after midnight as lingering showers depart the northeast Florida waters. Breezy northeast winds are then expected on Sunday as high pressure builds into the southeastern states, with diminishing winds and seas expected by early Sunday evening. High pressure will shift offshore of the southeastern states early next week, allowing for prevailing southeasterly winds. Breezy conditions are likely on Wednesday afternoon well in advance of a cold front that will be entering the southeastern states, with Caution level speeds possible through Thursday as winds shift to southerly and then southwesterly. Showers and thunderstorms will likely accompany this next frontal passage on Thursday afternoon and evening. Rip Currents: A long period east-northeasterly swell will be slow to fade today, keeping a moderate risk in place at all area beaches. Breezy north- northeasterly winds and building surf on Sunday will create a higher end moderate risk, with a high risk possible at the northeast FL beaches. Persistent onshore winds early next week will keep a higher end moderate risk in place at area beaches, with a high risk possible towards midweek at the northeast FL beaches as southeasterly winds strengthen. && .FIRE WEATHER... - Areas Of High Daytime Dispersions Over Northeast Fl Today - Areas Of High Dispersions Tuesday And Wednesday - Isolated Severe Thunderstorms Possible Today The cold front continues pushing across the region today, bringing showers and thunderstorms with chances for strong to severe storms from through the afternoon hours. Gusts to around 40-60 mph will be possible with storms along with frequent lightning and downpours. Higher dispersions are expected over north central FL this afternoon. By Sunday, conditions begin to dry out behind the front. With dry air filtering in behind the front, elevated fire danger conditions will be possible over inland locations. Generally drier conditions and lighter winds will then be expected for the beginning of the next work week, with minRH near critical for inland parts of the region. Elevated mixing heights by Tuesday and through midweek will bring the chance for areas of high dispersions across inland locations. FOG POTENTIAL AND OTHER REMARKS: More erratic winds will be likely at times associated with showers and thunderstorms Today. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 69 49 77 49 / 100 10 0 0 SSI 73 54 73 60 / 90 30 0 0 JAX 79 53 75 53 / 90 30 0 0 SGJ 86 58 75 59 / 90 50 0 0 GNV 83 55 80 53 / 90 40 0 0 OCF 86 56 81 54 / 80 50 0 0 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. MARINE...None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1200 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
FLZ031-125-132-136-137-232-233-237-325-433-533-633-021630-
Eastern Clay FL-Northern Inland St. Johns FL-Eastern Alachua FL-
Western St. Johns FL-Western Clay FL-South Central Duval FL-
Eastern Putnam FL-Western Putnam FL-Bradford FL-Coastal Duval FL-
Northeast Coastal St. Johns FL-Southern Inland St. Johns FL-
1200 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN BRADFORD...
NORTHEASTERN ALACHUA...WESTERN ST. JOHNS...NORTHERN PUTNAM...CLAY AND
SOUTHEASTERN DUVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 PM EDT...
At 1200 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Kingsley, or near Starke, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts around 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gainesville, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Starke, Keystone
Heights, Hastings, Melrose, Mandarin, Fruit Cove, and Middleburg.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2968 8244 2969 8245 3008 8207 3022 8144
2970 8138
TIME...MOT...LOC 1600Z 254DEG 37KT 2992 8203
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DUBOISSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1219 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
FLZ038-136-137-140-236-237-240-340-533-633-021700-
Eastern Alachua FL-Western St. Johns FL-Western Alachua FL-
Central Marion FL-Western Marion FL-Inland Flagler FL-
Eastern Putnam FL-Western Putnam FL-Eastern Marion FL-
Southern Inland St. Johns FL-
1219 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN FLAGLER...SOUTHERN
ALACHUA...SOUTH CENTRAL ST. JOHNS...MARION AND PUTNAM COUNTIES
THROUGH 100 PM EDT...
At 1219 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Archer to near Williston Municipal Airport
to 29 miles west of Homosassa. Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts around 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gainesville, Ocala, Palatka, Rainbow Lakes Estates, Crescent City,
Interlachen, Pomona Park, East Palatka, Salt Springs, and Citra.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2905 8247 2904 8253 2921 8254 2922 8240
2948 8241 2948 8256 2954 8256 2954 8257
2968 8255 2970 8142 2937 8150 2932 8168
2928 8164 2905 8164 2905 8166 2896 8166
2896 8231
TIME...MOT...LOC 1619Z 257DEG 44KT 2955 8245 2938 8251 2891 8307
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DUBOISSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1242 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
FLZ136-140-240-340-021715-
Eastern Alachua FL-Central Marion FL-Western Marion FL-
Eastern Marion FL-
1242 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN ALACHUA AND MARION
COUNTIES THROUGH 115 PM EDT...
At 1241 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Williston Municipal Airport to 9 miles
southwest of Rainbow Lakes Estates. Movement was east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Ocala, Rainbow Lakes Estates, Fort McCoy, Citra, Lynne, Sparr,
Anthony, The Village of Briar Meadow, Ocklawaha, and Silver Springs
Shores.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2897 8232 2902 8240 2902 8242 2905 8247
2905 8249 2904 8250 2904 8253 2921 8254
2922 8240 2948 8240 2948 8206 2947 8205
2948 8204 2948 8179 2896 8194 2896 8231
TIME...MOT...LOC 1641Z 262DEG 42KT 2929 8243 2909 8258
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DUBOISPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1245 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1236 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NW Gainesville Airpor 29.70N 82.28W
05/02/2026 M45 MPH Alachua FL ASOS
Thunderstorm wind gust of 45 mph at the
Gainesville Regional Airport ASOS.
&&
ABESpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1259 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
FLZ031-038-132-136>138-140-232-236-237-240-333-340-533-633-021800-
Coastal Flagler FL-Southeast Coastal St. Johns FL-Central Marion FL-
Western Clay FL-Eastern Putnam FL-Bradford FL-Eastern Marion FL-
Southern Inland St. Johns FL-Eastern Clay FL-Eastern Alachua FL-
Western St. Johns FL-Western Alachua FL-Western Marion FL-
Inland Flagler FL-Western Putnam FL-
1259 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMD WILL IMPACT FLAGLER...SOUTHEASTERN
BRADFORD...SOUTHEASTERN ALACHUA...SOUTHERN ST. JOHNS...MARION...
PUTNAM AND SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT...
At 1258 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms over
Sparr, or near Citra, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts around 40 to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Palm Coast, Ocala, Saint Augustine, Palatka, Rainbow Lakes Estates,
Flagler Beach, Bunnell, Crescent City, Interlachen, and Keystone
Heights.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2946 8110 2943 8110 2941 8115 2926 8115
2926 8141 2940 8142 2933 8168 2928 8164
2896 8166 2896 8230 2905 8247 2904 8253
2917 8254 2922 8251 2922 8240 2941 8241
2983 8217 2991 8128
TIME...MOT...LOC 1658Z 243DEG 45KT 2937 8215
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
DUBOISPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
116 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0113 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Ocala Airport 29.17N 82.22W
05/02/2026 M45 MPH Marion FL AWOS
AWOS station KOCF Ocala Airport - Jim Taylor
Fld.
&&
ABEThe Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 142 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:18 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree limb fell on an RV and damaged the slide-out portion. A large tree limb fell on a car near US 441 and SE 80th St causing damage to the rear left side of the car. The nearby AWOS station KOCF Ocala Airport - Jim Taylor Fld measured 45 mph at 113 PM EDT.
A tree fell onto a car causing unknown damage In Southeast Ocala. Time was Estimated Via Radar.
A porch awning along with the gutters collapsed onto a car in the Marion Oaks area. This also caused unknown damage to the house's roof. Time was estimated via radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2026
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: 1331279, 1331272, 1331273.