Tornadoes · United States · Florida · 2024

EF1 tornado, Betts to Bascom, Florida, January 9, 2024

Name: EF1 tornado, Betts to Bascom, Florida, January 9, 2024
Start: 2024-01-09T12:03:00.000Z
End: 2024-01-09T12:19:00.000Z
Location: Betts to Bascom, Florida

From Betts to Bascom, this EF1 tornado ran 9.8 miles across Calhoun, Jackson and Bay counties on January 9, 2024, touching down at 6:03 AM CST and reaching 450 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $5,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating: EF1
Date: January 9, 2024
Touchdown: 6:03 AM CST (12:03 UTC)
Lifted: 6:19 AM CST (12:19 UTC)
On the ground: 16 minutes
Path length: 9.8 miles (15.8 km)
Path width: 450 yards (411 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $5,000
Counties: Calhoun, Jackson and Bay counties
Touchdown point: 30.514, -85.395
Lift-off point: 30.637, -85.313
Record number: 2401090603-01

The damage survey

92 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS TAE, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 125 mph.

Uproot hardwood and loss of significant roof damage
Residence had greater than 20% loss of roof; about half. Couldn’t get a pic.
Several softwood trunks snapped
Siding missing, partial roof loss

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A high impact severe weather event impacted the tri-state region on January 9th with supercells producing tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts, followed by a major squall line with widespread wind damage and additional tornadoes. Preceding this activity, very strong non-thunderstorm wind gusts of 40-60 mph occurred, with even a gust to 70 mph at the Albany airport. There were 14 tornadoes confirmed across the tri-state region, including 3 EF0s, 5 EF1s, 5 EF2s, and 1 EF3. This activity was driven by a deepening area of low pressure west of the region with a record strong low level jet crossing the region. The winds at 850 mb were in in the 65-80 knot range, and sufficient instability existed to support mixing some of these very strong environmental winds to the surface. ||Two significant tornadoes touched down in Bay county, including 1 EF3 and 1 EF2. These two tornadoes in Bay county resulted in damage to 326 buildings for a total market value loss of $20,350,311. There were 234 single family homes damaged, 46 mobile homes damaged, 22 condos damaged, 2 multi-family homes damaged, and 22 commercial buildings damaged. Of these 326 buildings, 113 sustained 5% damage, 86 sustained 15% damage, 2 sustained 20% damage, 29 sustained 30% damage, 17 sustained 35% damage, 28 sustained 45% damage, and 51 sustained 100% damage.

This tornado touched down in far northeast Bay county, travelled through far northwest Calhoun county, and ended in Jackson county. The Bay county portion of the tornado is rated EF0. The Calhoun and Jackson county portions of the tornado are rated EF1 with max winds estimated at 90 mph. The tornado began in northeastern Bay county where it touched down in a wooded area between US 231 and NW County road 274 snapping several trees. Multiple trees along NW County road 167 were snapped or uprooted. The track continued to the northeast into Jackson county where it crossed through forested land before crossing Freeman Road. The tornado continued through another wooded area before moving parallel with Grand Mesa Avenue where several trees were uprooted or snapped. The tornado then continued through another wooded area before crossing Varsey Lane where it damaged some small outbuilding sheds as well as snapped a few trees. The tornado continued to track parallel to Varsey Lane to the northeast before snapping tree tops along its path before lifting just beyond Celestial Lane in another wooded area. The tornado reached its maximum width of approximately 450 yards as well as its maximum intensity as it crossed NW county road 167 with the most widespread tree damage observed at this point.

The tornado began in an open field that paralleled highway 73 in central Jackson county. The tornado continued to the northeast before crossing Pandora road where it uprooted a couple large pine trees, one of which fell on an older single wide trailer, which was completely destroyed. Another slightly newer single wide trailer had half of its roof peeled back and blown into the woods behind it to the northeast. The tornado continued to the northeast where it crossed Magnolia road. Several trees were uprooted and snapped along the road. A brand new manufactured home had half of its roof blown off. A trailer park along Mark lane had several large trees snapped or uprooted, and a few roofs were peeled back on some of the single wide homes in the subdivision. The tornado then went on to cross I-10 where an 18 wheeler was knocked over. After crossing I-10, the tornado paralleled Spring Creek road where it snapped and uprooted several large hardwood trees as well as peeled back part of the roof of a shed. The tornado continued to the northeast where it crossed U.S. Highway 90 where a majority of the damage and seven injuries occurred in an RV Park and neighborhood. Several mobile homes where significantly damaged or flipped upside down while being displaced several hundred feet. Several large pine trees where snapped at the base as well. In the subdivision just to the northeast of the RV Park on Rooks Drive, two residential family homes had their roofs completely blown off. A church just across the street from the homes off Merritts Mill road had a cinder block outbuilding collapse. The church building sustained some damage to the gable. The tornado continued to the northeast where several homes off of Janette Drive had partial roof damage as well as sporadic tree damage. The tornado continued to the northeast again through a wooded area before moving through Blue Spring subdivision where extensive damage was observed to the roofs and siding of a majority of the homes. Two homes off of Spring Chase Lane had their roofs blown off along with several large mature hardwoods being snapped at their base. The tornado reached its maximum intensity and width through this stretch just beyond U.S. Highway 90. The maximum width is estimated to be around 600 yards. From the Blue Springs Road subdivision, the tornado continued to the northeast parallel to Blue Springs Road where it snapped and uprooted several trees. The tornado continued along Blue Springs road where it damaged the roofs of several single wide manufactured homes. The tornado continued to the northeast where it collapsed the roof of another church outbuilding along Polar Springs road while also uprooting and snapping several trees on the church property. The tornado crossed Fort road to the northeast of the church where several trees were snapped and uprooted before continuing through a wooded area. The tornado crossed Wintergreen road where a few trees were uprooted along the road, before it dissipated over the field to the northeast of the road. The tornado was rated EF2 with max winds estimated at 125 mph.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

11 minutes of warning. NWS TAE issued a tornado warning for this county at 11:52 UTC, 11 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 12:17 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 02:42 UTC and running to 12:08 UTC.

Issued (UTC)	Expired	Product	Office
02:00 UTC	08:00 UTC	Wind Advisory	TAE
02:42 UTC	12:08 UTC	Tornado Watch	TAE
11:22 UTC	12:00 UTC	Tornado Warning	TAE
11:52 UTC	12:17 UTC	Tornado Warning	TAE
12:08 UTC	16:40 UTC	Tornado Watch	TAE
13:00 UTC	14:30 UTC	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE
13:19 UTC	13:45 UTC	Tornado Warning	TAE
13:42 UTC	14:15 UTC	Tornado Warning	TAE
14:05 UTC	15:30 UTC	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE
14:10 UTC	14:30 UTC	Tornado Warning	TAE
14:25 UTC	14:48 UTC	Tornado Warning	TAE

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 05:56 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Jan 9, 3:27 AM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 9, 3:27 AM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

...New SYNOPSIS, NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE, FIRE
WEATHER, HYDROLOGY...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

A significant weather event is getting underway early this
morning. Multiple hazards are expected. Key Messages below:

1. Strong to severe storms are expected today. It is starting
early this morning in the form of isolated supercells over the
Panhandle and southeast Alabama. Then an intense thunderstorm
squall line will race east during the day today. Damaging to
destructive winds, tornadoes (some strong), and hail are all
possible threats.

2. Heavy rainfall is also expected with this system through early
afternoon. Some flooding is possible, as well as rises to near
flood stage on some area rivers.

3. Very strong non-thunderstorm gradient winds are expected with
this system. Wind gusts of 40-55 mph are possible across the area
today. Given wet soils, this could result in trees falling more
easily. Even higher wind gusts approaching 60 mph are expected
along the coast this morning from Wakulla county westward to
Walton County.

4. Extremely dangerous beach and boating conditions are expected.
Gales and storm-force wind gusts are expected today. Very high
surf and deadly rip currents are expected.

5. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected today and
possibly tonight, most likely along the shores of Apalachee Bay.

As soon as the ongoing event is winding down late today, it will
be time to start messaging for the next severe weather event on
Friday. SPC already has much of the service area in a Slight Risk
of severe thunderstorms on Friday. All modes of severe weather
will be possible.

&&

.NEAR TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

The big event is getting underway this morning.

Strong winds are developing or have already developed in advance
of a cold front that is trailing from a particularly deep low
pressure center over Missouri early this morning. Gusts in excess
of 50 mph have already been observed along coastal Bay and Walton
Counties. Based on upstream observations near Pensacola, even
stronger winds are coming in the next few hours.

The convective setup is that we have a broken line of discrete
supercells extending south from near Destin right now. Any of
these cells could produce a strong tornado as they move onshore
and inland. The strong southerly flow is quickly advecting warmer,
moister, and more unstable inland, and the organizing wind shear
is extreme. A Tornado Watch is already in effect.

Round 2 will be a solid severe thunderstorm squall line, which is
currently approaching Mobile. It will race across the region from
west to east today. Widespread severe gusts of 60+ mph are
expected, with more focused and localized areas of 70+ mph gusts.
Tornadoes could be embedded within the line. SPC has the entire
service area in an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather
today. Expect additional Tornado Watches as we move through the
morning.

A cold front will follow the squall line, and afternoon
temperatures will cool down following the frontal passage. Gusty
westerly winds will follow the front this afternoon and evening.
Based on the possibility of westerly sustained winds of 25 mph
continuing into the afternoon and evening, have extended the Wind
Advisory in places to continue longer.

The air mass will get drier tonight, and skies will clear out.
Inland lows will drop into the 30s by sunrise Wednesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Wednesday through Thursday night)
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

The short term will be the "between systems" segment of the
forecast. Surface high pressure will develop as upper level ridging
will begin to build over the next day. We will be dry on Wednesday
and Thursday but temperatures will be cool. Highs will struggle into
the low 50s for our AL and GA counties, while only reaching the
upper 50s for our FL counties. Overnight lows will range from the
low-mid 30s inland to the low 40s along the coast. Thursday will be
a little warmer with highs in the low to mid 60s. Winds on Wednesday
will be light to moderate from the west shifting to the southeast on
Thursday, gearing up for our next system.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday through Monday)
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

A familiar pattern will develop for the long term period. An upper
level trough will be moving across the Southern Plains with a low
pressure system with frontal boundaries out ahead of it. A warm
front will develop and move north from the Gulf, providing that
first surge of moisture and warming temperatures for Friday. Highs
are expected in the low to mid 70s. As the upper level low lifts
north on Friday into Saturday, a cold front will follow, and push
out the showers and thunderstorms Friday night. This is another
complex system and the SPC has already highlighted the Tri-State
region in a 15% probability for severe thunderstorms for Friday,
which is equal to a Slight Risk (2 of 5). This system is expected to
have plenty of shear (65-75 kts) with an ensemble mean CAPE around
400-500 J/kg. These parameters are supportive of damaging to
destructive winds and a risk for tornadoes. PoPs for Friday are
about 90 percent for the entire CWA.

The cold front will come through Saturday morning with
cooler temperatures behind it. Saturday's highs are forecast to be
around 50 in our GA and AL counties, and the low-mid 50s for our FL
counties. Although, wind chills will feel like the mid 40s in our
GA/AL counties on Saturday afternoon. Low temperatures will be in
the low 30s Saturday night with some areas falling into the upper
20s in northern tier of GA counties. A brief warm-up will ensue for
the remainder of the weekend. Changes are again in store heading
into the beginning of the work week. There is uncertainty regarding
timing but, it looks like an intense cool down is expected in the
extended forecast.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1255 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

A severe thunderstorm squall line is expected to quickly rake
across the terminals from west to east this morning through mid-
day. In advance of the squall line, showers and isolated
thunderstorms will somewhat randomly pass by. As the air mass
moistens in advance of the main squall line, ceilings will come
down below 1,000 feet, where they have not already. Non-convective
low-level wind shear is also a concern, given low-level jet that
will strengthen to near 60 knots or more by sunrise.

After the main squall line, a trailing area of stratiform rain
with embedded thunder will follow at each terminal for about 2
hours, before fading in weak low-topped showers during the late
afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

Two separate gales are expected this week. The first is ongoing
this morning, and the next round is expected Friday. A brief lull
between systems will come on Wednesday night and Thursday, but
seas over the open Gulf will never have a chance to decrease below
3 feet before coming up again.

From CWF synopsis...Southerly gales with storm-force gusts will
occur over the northeast Gulf this morning, in advance of a cold
front trailing from a particularly deep low pressure center moving
across the Mid-Mississippi Valley. The frontal passage today will
come with a squall line of severe thunderstorms, then a shift to
westerly gales, bringing confused seas. Winds will quickly
decrease late tonight and Wednesday, and high pressure will cross
the waters Wednesday night. The next strong frontal passage is
expected on Friday night, preceded by the next round of southerly
gales on Friday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

A severe thunderstorm squall line will blast across the districts
today. A cold front will follow the line of storms, ushering in a
cooler and drier air mass for Wednesday. High pressure will pass
across the districts on Wednesday night, followed by a return of
warmer and moister southerly winds starting Thursday. On Thursday,
low mixing heights will contribute to poor dispersion on Thursday
afternoon over Florida Big Bend and southwest Georgia districts.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 427 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

River forecast update: A Flood Warning is in effect for the
Choctawhatchee River - Newton, which is forecast to reach minor
flood stage this afternoon, then crest by Wednesday morning. The
Pea River - Ariton is also forecast to minor flood stage, but
given that significant rainfall is only now about to begin and
that the stage change is just outside of 24 hrs, we will be
waiting for the next round of river guidance later this morning
before making a warning decision.

An incredible synoptic setup with a very dynamic system is expected
to continue impacting the region through this evening.

Overall, rainfall amounts have increased slightly in the western
half of the region, owing to an initial widespread stratiform rain
event, then turning convective prior to the arrival of a squall
line. As a result, this is why rainfall amounts mainly west of the
ACF basin have trended upward. Fortunately, this area has received
less rainfall than other portions of our forecast area, so while 3-6
inches of rain does present a localized flash flood threat and will
lead to noteworthy rises on the Choc/Pea system in South Alabama, a
significant flash flood threat does not appear likely, thus no flood
watch is needed.

The squall line will deliver a very quick 1-2 inches, but its fast
progression will limit any flash flood concerns, even in the eastern
portions of the forecast area that are much more saturated. Even so,
we'll still see modest rises on our mainstem rivers.

So while riverine and flash flood impacts are minor, the more
pressing concern is the coastal flood impacts. While timing of the
onshore winds is important, the magnitude and duration of the winds
combined with attendant winds from the squall line set up a scenario
where moderate flooding is likely in Apalachee Bay, especially east
of Carrabelle. It's east of Carrabelle where the synoptic scale
winds of 40-50 mph with higher gusts will pile water into the bay
ahead of the squall line. Even if the squall line arrives around
16z, 2 hours prior to high tide, the additional influence of the
squall line will push water levels to warning criteria from
Carrabelle eastward. Unfortunately, the squall line timing and
environmental winds are forecast to peak as they near the
Taylor/Dixie County coast around 18z, which is when high tide
occurs. Both deterministic and ensemble guidance suggest at least 2-
4 feet AGL with isolated pockets of inundation as much as 5 feet.
While this is on the high side of the guidance, the environmental
winds are well beyond 90th percentile, so favoring the higher end
guidance seems appropriate here.

Thus a Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for Franklin County
eastward. A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for the Panhandle
counties to account for the strong winds leading to minor
flooding there.

We'll watch the next system on Friday for additional rains and see
how it will undoubtedly impact our river systems into the coming
weekend.

&&

.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   68  38  56  40 / 100   0   0   0
Panama City   68  42  56  44 / 100   0   0   0
Dothan        67  34  52  35 / 100   0   0   0
Albany        67  36  53  34 / 100   0   0   0
Valdosta      69  38  55  37 / 100  10   0   0
Cross City    71  40  58  40 / 100  20   0   0
Apalachicola  68  41  57  47 / 100   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 6 PM EST /5 PM CST/ this evening for
     FLZ007>017-026-027-118.

     Wind Advisory until 6 PM EST this evening for FLZ018-019-028-029-
     034.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 1 AM EST /midnight CST/ Wednesday
     for FLZ108-112-114.

     High Wind Warning until 1 PM EST /noon CST/ this afternoon for
     FLZ108-112-114-115-127.

     High Rip Current Risk through Saturday evening for FLZ108-112-
     114-115.

     High Surf Warning until 11 AM EST /10 AM CST/ Wednesday for
     FLZ108-112-114.

     Wind Advisory from 1 PM EST /noon CST/ this afternoon to
     midnight EST /11 PM CST/ tonight for FLZ108-112-114-115.

     High Surf Advisory until 10 PM EST this evening for FLZ115.

     Coastal Flood Warning from 7 AM this morning to 1 AM EST
     Wednesday for FLZ115-118-127.

     Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 6 PM EST this evening
     for FLZ127.

     Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for FLZ128-134.

     Coastal Flood Warning from 7 AM this morning to 7 AM EST
     Wednesday for FLZ128-134.

GA...Wind Advisory until 6 PM EST this evening for GAZ120>131-142>146-
     155>158.

     Wind Advisory until 6 PM EST this evening for GAZ147-148-159>161.

AL...Wind Advisory until 5 PM CST this afternoon for ALZ065>069.

GM...Gale Warning until 5 AM EST Wednesday for GMZ730-765.

     Storm Warning until 1 PM EST /noon CST/ this afternoon for
     GMZ750-752-755-770-772-775.

     Gale Warning from 1 PM EST /noon CST/ this afternoon to 5 AM EST
     /4 AM CST/ Wednesday for GMZ750-752-755-770-772-775.

&&

NEAR TERM...Haner
SHORT TERM...Montgomery
LONG TERM....Montgomery
AVIATION...Haner
MARINE...Haner
FIRE WEATHER...Haner
HYDROLOGY...Godsey/Haner

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 9, 4:33 AM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
533 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0528 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 WNW Blue Mountain Bea 30.35N 86.23W
01/09/2024  M106 MPH         Walton             FL   Mesonet

            Measured wind gust of 106 mph at Ed Walline
            Beach Access WeatherStem.

&&

JM

Local storm report, Jan 9, 4:40 AM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
540 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0533 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 ENE Santa Rosa Beach  30.40N 86.21W
01/09/2024  M60 MPH          Walton             FL   Mesonet

            Ambient Weather Station measured 60 mph wind
            gust in Walton County at Santa Rosa Beach.

&&

JM

Local storm report, Jan 9, 5:33 AM CST, 30 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
633 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 AM     Tornado          1 WNW Douglass Crossroa 30.69N 86.00W
01/09/2024                   Walton             FL   Trained Spotter

            Spotter report of a tornado crossing I-10
            southwest of Ponce de Leon.

&&

WD

Local storm report, Jan 9, 5:35 AM CST, 28 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
635 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0630 AM     Hail             1 NNE Gulf Lagoon Beach 30.18N 85.78W
01/09/2024  E1.25 inch       Bay                FL   Broadcast Media

            Hail at WJHG TV Station.

&&

WD

Local storm report, Jan 9, 5:45 AM CST, 18 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
645 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0639 AM     Tornado          2 NNE Magnolia Beach    30.18N 85.71W
01/09/2024                   Bay                FL   Trained Spotter

            Multiple reports of a tornado from spotters
            and public crossing US-98 east of Hathaway
            Bridge.

&&

WD

Local storm report, Jan 9, 5:57 AM CST, 6 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
657 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0632 AM     Hail             2 N Magnolia Beach      30.18N 85.72W
01/09/2024  M1.25 inch       Bay                FL   Broadcast Media

            1.25 hail reported at the WJHG-TV Panama
            City Beach about 1 mile east of the Hathaway
            Bridge.

&&

JM

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), 12:00Z

0.1 hours before the tornado, 103 km from the path. January 9, 2024.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 9 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -151 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 480 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 64 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 808 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 914 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.4
0-3 km lapse rate: 4.6 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Mariana (MAI), 33 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
10:05 UTC			160° 19 kt	33	1001.7	-RA
10:10 UTC			160° 22 kt	33	1001.7	-RA
10:15 UTC			160° 20 kt	29	1001.7	-RA
10:25 UTC			160° 21 kt	32	1001.7	-RA
10:30 UTC			160° 19 kt	28	1001.7	-RA
10:35 UTC			160° 19 kt	27	1001.7	-RA
10:40 UTC			160° 19 kt	28	1001.7	-RA
10:45 UTC			160° 22 kt	32	1001.7	-RA
10:50 UTC			170° 18 kt	27	1001.7	-RA
10:53 UTC	64	64	170° 17 kt	35	1001.7	VCTS -RA
10:55 UTC			160° 19 kt	28	1001.7
11:00 UTC			170° 19 kt	31	1001.7
11:05 UTC			170° 19 kt	31	1001.4	-RA
11:08 UTC	64	64	170° 19 kt	31	1001.4	-TSRA
11:10 UTC			160° 19 kt	24	1001.4	-RA
11:15 UTC			160° 18 kt	27	1001.4	-RA
11:19 UTC	65	65	160° 15 kt	28	1001.4	-RA
11:20 UTC			160° 18 kt	28	1001.4	-RA
11:25 UTC			170° 16 kt	23	1001.4	-RA
11:30 UTC			160° 20 kt	29	1001	-RA
11:35 UTC			160° 21 kt		1001	-RA BR
11:40 UTC			160° 19 kt	27	1000.7	-RA
11:42 UTC	66	66	160° 17 kt	34	1000.7	VCTS -RA
11:45 UTC				35	1000.7	-RA
11:50 UTC			22 kt	33	1000.7	-RA
11:51 UTC	66.2	66.2	160° 23 kt	37	1000.7	-TSRA
11:53 UTC	67	66	170° 22 kt	37	1001	TSRA BR
11:55 UTC				35	1001	RA BR
12:00 UTC			170° 19 kt	24	1000.7	RA BR
12:05 UTC			160° 15 kt	28	1000.7	-RA
12:10 UTC			170° 21 kt	29	1000.7	-RA
12:12 UTC	68		160° 19 kt	35	1000.3	-RA
12:15 UTC			170° 20 kt	29	1000.3	RA
12:20 UTC	68		170° 22 kt	36	1000	VCTS +RA
12:25 UTC			170° 16 kt	22	1000	+RA
12:27 UTC	68		170° 16 kt	36	1000	VCTS +RA
12:30 UTC			170° 10 kt		999.3	+RA
12:33 UTC	68		70° 8 kt	25	996.3	+RA TS
12:36 UTC	68		340° 16 kt	29	997	+RA
12:40 UTC					1000.7	+RA SQ
12:44 UTC	68		210° 21 kt	42	1000.3	+TSRA SQ
12:45 UTC				46	1000.3	+RA SQ
12:50 UTC					1000	RA
12:55 UTC				38	1000	+RA BR
12:59 UTC	69	68	200° 26 kt	40	1000.3	+RA BR
13:00 UTC					1000	+RA BR
13:01 UTC	69	68	200° 27 kt	40	1000	+RA BR
13:05 UTC				41	999.3	+RA BR
13:08 UTC	69	68	190° 22 kt	42	999.3	+RA BR
13:10 UTC			190° 22 kt	32	999.7	+RA BR
13:15 UTC			190° 22 kt		999.7	-RA
13:16 UTC	70	68	190° 24 kt	33	1000	-RA
13:20 UTC			180° 27 kt	39	999.7	-RA
13:25 UTC			190° 23 kt	36	1000	-RA
13:30 UTC			180° 26 kt	38	1000	-RA
13:35 UTC			180° 28 kt	44	1000	-RA
13:35 UTC	70	68	180° 28 kt	45	1000	-RA
13:53 UTC	71	68	170° 25 kt	47	999	-RA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 54 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 12:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Report	Where	County	Remark
10:55 UTC	TSTM WND GST 65	1 Ssw Douglass Crossroa	Walton, FL	Wind damage to fence and weak trees. Public estimated gusts were around 65 mph.
10:55 UTC	HAIL 1.25	1 Ssw Douglass Crossroa	Walton, FL
11:02 UTC	TORNADO	3 Nnw Hinsons Crossroad	Holmes, FL	TDS on EVX radar crossed into far southern Holmes county along R M Ward Road.
11:30 UTC	HAIL 1.25	1 Nne Gulf Lagoon Beach	Bay, FL	Hail at WJHG TV Station.
11:30 UTC	HAIL 1.75	1 Wsw Magnolia Beach	Bay, FL
11:30 UTC	TORNADO	1 Ene Biltmore Beach	Bay, FL	Spotter reported tornado damage to homes from tornado.
11:30 UTC	TORNADO	Gulf Lagoon Beach	Bay, FL	Significant structural damage to beach homes in Panama City Beach. One home leaning sideways from its foundation. Photo via social media.
11:32 UTC	HAIL 1.25	2 N Magnolia Beach	Bay, FL	1.25 hail reported at the WJHG-TV Panama City Beach about 1 mile east of the Hathaway Bridge.
11:34 UTC	TSTM WND GST 68	1 Ene Gulf Lagoon Beach	Bay, FL	An Ambient station measured a gust of 68.4 mph.
11:37 UTC	HAIL 2	2 Sw Southport	Bay, FL	Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).
11:39 UTC	TORNADO	2 Nne Magnolia Beach	Bay, FL	Multiple reports of a tornado from spotters and public crossing US-98 east of Hathaway Bridge.
11:44 UTC	TSTM WND GST 63	2 Nw Brannonville	Bay, FL	Delayed report...an Ambient station gusted to 63 mph on January 9th.
11:50 UTC	TORNADO	1 Ne Bayhead	Bay, FL	Structural damage to homes in this area corresponds to a TDS from EVX radar.
12:08 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 N Fountain	Bay, FL	Report from mPING: 3-inch tree limbs broken; Power poles broken.
12:17 UTC	TORNADO	1 Nw Center Lake	Calhoun, FL	Radar indicated TDS from KEVX in far NW Calhoun County.
12:29 UTC	TORNADO	3 Nnw Simsville	Jackson, FL	TDS Confirmed tornado from KEVX radar in Jackson County. Continuing to see TDS on radar as storm passed just east of downtown Marianna.
12:29 UTC	TORNADO	3 Nnw Simsville	Jackson, FL	TDS confirmed via EVX radar. Continuing to track TDS through Jackson County as storm passed just east of Marianna.
12:29 UTC	TORNADO	3 Nnw Simsville	Jackson, FL	TDS confirmed via KEVX radar. Continued to track NE through the county as storm passed just east of Marianna.
12:29 UTC	TORNADO	3 Nnw Simsville	Jackson, FL	TDS from KEVX. TDS continued east of Marianna and further NE into Jackson County.
12:34 UTC	TORNADO	3 Ese Marianna	Jackson, FL	Structural damage reported via social media to mobile homes near Marianna.
13:25 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 E Ponce De Leon	Holmes, FL	Trees down along Mt. Zion Rd.
13:25 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	3 N Ponce De Leon	Holmes, FL	Trees down along Valee Rd.
13:27 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ne Ponce De Leon	Holmes, FL	Trees down along Oak Grove Church Rd.
13:29 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 Wnw Westville	Holmes, FL	Trees down along Highway 181 near Red Rd.
13:29 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	3 N Live Oak	Washington, FL	Power lines down at 3465 River Road.
13:30 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	Gritney	Holmes, FL	Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the Gritney area.
13:31 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Hinsons Crossroads	Washington, FL	Tree down on Shakey Joe Road.
13:32 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ese Hinsons Crossroad	Washington, FL	Trees down on power lines at Parrish Steel Road and Azalea Lane.
13:32 UTC	TORNADO	2 E Pine Log	Bay, FL	TDS from KEVX radar.
13:33 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 Ne Caryville	Washington, FL	Tree down on Lake Circle.
13:34 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 N Caryville	Holmes, FL	A power line was hanging 6 feet above the road at Highway 179 at Grace Fellowship Church.
13:35 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 Wsw Whitehead Crossro	Washington, FL	Tree down on power lines on Douglas Ferry and Brock Road.
13:35 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	3 Ssw Whitehead Crossro	Washington, FL	Power line running across the road at Bryant Bay.
13:37 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 Sse Whitehead Crossro	Washington, FL	Tree down at 3322 Pate Pond Road.
13:38 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 Se Pittman	Holmes, FL	Trees down along JW Miller Road.
13:40 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wsw Holmes Valley	Washington, FL	Trees down on Walton Road near Holmes Valley Road.
13:40 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Hulaw	Holmes, FL	Trees down on Bethel Road.
13:42 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wsw Bonifay	Holmes, FL	Trees down on Sandpath Road just past back entrance of Schools.
13:42 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wsw Greenhead	Washington, FL	Multiple trees were blown down at Chain Lake Road and Carter Cir.
13:43 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nne Bonifay	Holmes, FL	Power lines were blown down on Hubbard Street.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2024 tornado in Florida Every tornado in Florida since 1950 Warnings in force in Florida now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of January 9, 2024

31 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
January 9	2:29 AM CST	EF1	Santa Rosa, FL	1.7	150
January 9	3:24 AM CST	EF1	George, MS	0.2	30
January 9	3:47 AM CST	EF0	Mobile, AL	3.0	20
January 9	3:56 AM CST	EF0	Mobile, AL	1.5	20
January 9	4:12 AM CST	EF0	Mobile, AL	0.7	30
January 9	4:29 AM CST	EF1	Walton, FL	10.9	220			$100,000
January 9	4:32 AM CST	EF1	Baldwin, AL	1.9	230
January 9	4:35 AM CST	EF1	Baldwin, AL	0.3	50
January 9	4:38 AM CST	EF0	Baldwin, AL	5.1	20
January 9	4:48 AM CST	EF1	Walton, FL	5.4	160			$50,000
January 9	5:03 AM CST	EF0	Holmes, FL	1.0	100			$75,000
January 9	5:31 AM CST	EF0	Bay, FL	0.2	50			$1,000
January 9	5:31 AM CST	EF3	Bay, FL	5.2	550			$15 million
January 9	5:43 AM CST	EF2	Bay, FL	12.9	600		2	$5.0 million
January 9	5:53 AM CST	EF1	Houston, AL	1.2	225			$100,000
January 9	6:25 AM CST	EF2	Jackson, FL	16.3	600		7	$5.0 million
January 9	7:06 AM CST	EF1	Walton, FL	0.3	200			$50,000
January 9	8:12 AM EST	EF0	Fulton, GA	1.6	75
January 9	7:50 AM CST	EF2	Jackson, FL to AL	34.8	1,000	1	10	$6.3 million
January 9	7:59 AM CST	EF0	Washington, FL	0.9	50
January 9	8:03 AM CST	EF2	Bay, FL	0.9	150			$75,000
January 9	9:46 AM EST	EF2	Early, GA	21.7	800			$376,000
January 9	10:32 AM EST	EF0	Leon, FL	1.0	50
January 9	12:27 PM EST	EF1	Catawba, NC	9.0	250	1	4	$250,000
January 9	12:55 PM EST	EF1	Coffee, GA	7.3	400
January 9	1:43 PM EST	EF1	Evans, GA	4.8	200			$100,000
January 9	2:10 PM EST	EF1	Lexington, SC	3.3	150		1
January 9	2:46 PM EST	EF2	Bamberg, SC	2.1	500			$1.8 million
January 9	4:00 PM EST	EF1	Hillsborough, FL	0.6	75			$250,000
January 9	4:08 PM EST	EF0	Duval, FL	0.2	30
January 9	4:23 PM EST	EF0	Pinellas, FL	0.0	10			$10,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.