Overview
An intense storm system pivoting northeastward through the lower Mississippi Valley on the evening of April 12th sparked a severe weather outbreak throughout the southeastern states on April 12th and 13th. As this storm system lifted through the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys on April 13th, an associated frontal boundary moved slowly through our region, resulting in widespread heavy rainfall and several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms on April 14th and 15th. |
Geocolor visible satellite imagery from April 13, 2020. |
Loop of KJAX reflectivity and velocity data from Odum, GA EF-1 tornado. | Loop of KVAX reflectivity and velocity data from Ambrose, GA EF-0 tornado. | Loop of KJAX reflectivity and velocity data from Duval-Nassau County, FL EF-0 tornado. |
Tornadoes:
Tornado #1 - Odum, GA
Track Map |
Tornado #2 - Ambrose, GA
Track Map |
Tornado #3 - Live Oak, FL
Track Map |
Tornado #4 - North Duval County, FL
Track Map |
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
Photos & Video
Collection of Tweets from April 13, 2020
April 13, 2020 Svr Wx - Curated tweets by NWSJacksonvilleCollection of Tweets from April 15, 2020
April 15, 2020 Svr Wx - Curated tweets by NWSJacksonvilleStorm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY National Weather Service Jacksonville FL ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0624 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW DOUGLAS 31.54N 82.93W 04/13/2020 Coffee GA EMERGENCY MNGR EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS WIND DAMAGE TO A VACATE MOBILE HOME NEAR CHANEY ROAD AND HIGHWAY 32. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 0627 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW DOUGLAS 31.54N 82.92W 04/13/2020 Coffee GA EMERGENCY MNGR NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES WERE KNOCKED DOWN THROUGHOUT COFFEE COUNTY PER EMA AND 911. 0632 AM TSTM WND DMG 7 S DOUGLAS 31.41N 82.85W 04/13/2020 Coffee GA PUBLIC NEAR COFFEE COUNTY / AND ATKINSON COUNTY ALONG U.S.221 NUMEROUS TREES, POWER LINES AND A POTENTIAL HOUSE ROOF WERE REPORTED BLOWN OFF. 0632 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 E DOUGLAS 31.51N 82.82W 04/13/2020 Coffee GA EMERGENCY MNGR TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS COFFEE COUNTY. ROOF ON HOME COLLAPSED ON SLEEPY HALLOW FARM ROAD. 0639 AM TORNADO 5 SE AMBROSE 31.55N 82.96W 04/13/2020 COFFEE GA NWS STORM SURVEY IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF APRIL 13TH, AN EF-O TORNADO WITH MAX WINDS OF 80 MPH TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 5 MILES SE OF AMBROSE, GA. THE TORNADO WAS APPROXIMATELY 125 YARDS WIDE AND TRAVELED ABOUT 1.5 MILES BEFORE LIFTING NEAR HWY 32. 0640 AM TSTM WND GST DOUGLAS 31.51N 82.85W 04/13/2020 M55.00 MPH COFFEE GA ASOS DOUGLASS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT REPORTED A THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST OF 55 MPH AT 640 AM ET. 0640 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 SE AMBROSE 31.54N 82.96W 04/13/2020 Coffee GA EMERGENCY MNGR COFFEE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SHARED PICTURES OF SIGNFICANT DAMAGE TO MOBILE HOMES AND AN EIGHTEEN WHEEL TRUCK OVERTURNED IN THE VICINTIY OF BUSHNELL. 0654 AM TSTM WND GST ALMA 31.54N 82.48W 04/13/2020 M49.00 MPH BACON GA ASOS ALMA ASOS MEASURED A PEAK GUST TO 49 MPH. 0710 AM TSTM WND DMG 10 N PATTERSON 31.52N 82.15W 04/13/2020 Appling GA EMERGENCY MNGR APPLING COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS TREES DOWNED ALONG STATE ROAD 203 AT THE WAYNE COUNTY LINE, A BUILDING DAMAGED ALONG LAKE GRIFFIS ROAD, AND TREES DOWNED ALONG LAKE CHAPEL ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH DASHER ROAD. 0725 AM TORNADO WNW ODUM 31.67N 82.03W 04/13/2020 Wayne GA EMERGENCY MNGR WAYNE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SHARED PHOTOS OF A HOUSE RAISED ON CINDER BLOCK FOUNDATION THAT WAS SPUN OFF THE FOUNDATION IN ODUM. MAGNITUDE OF TORNADO WILL BE DETERMINED BY STORM SURVEY. 0725 AM TSTM WND DMG ODUM 31.67N 82.03W 04/13/2020 WAYNE GA LAW ENFORCEMENT WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTS MULTIPLE HOUSES DAMAGED IN THE VICINITY OF ODUM. 0725 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 ENE ODUM 31.67N 82.00W 04/13/2020 Wayne GA PUBLIC *** 8 INJ *** ROOF AND WINDOW DAMAGE TO APPROXIMATELY 35 HOMES IN THE VICINITY OF ODUM,WITH POWER LINES AND TREES KNOCKED DOWN ALONG WALTER GRIFFIS ROAD, HIRES AVENUE, HYMA POPPELL LOOP AND TANK ROAD. 8 INJURIES REPORTED WITH 3 OF THOSE REQUIRING TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. 0725 AM TORNADO ODUM 31.67N 82.03W 04/13/2020 WAYNE GA NWS STORM SURVEY *** 8 INJ *** NWS STORM SURVEY FOUND EVIDENCE OF A HIGH-END EF-1 TORNADO WITH PEAK WINDS OF 110 MPH TOUCHED DOWN IN THE CITY OF ODUM, GA AND TRAVELED EAST-NORTHEASTWARD FOR 4.67 MILES BEFORE LIFTING UP. THE PATH WIDTH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILES AT ITS WIDEST. 0727 AM TORNADO 2 ENE ODUM 31.68N 81.99W 04/13/2020 Wayne GA EMERGENCY MNGR A TORNADO LIFTED A MANUFACTURED HOME OFF THE GROUND AND OVERTOP OF POWERLINES, WHERE IT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO HYMA POPPELL LOOP NEAR POPPELL FARMS TO THE NORTHEAST OF ODOM. THE INTENSITY OF THIS TORNADO WILL BE DETERMINED BY A STORM SURVEY THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED THIS AFTERNOON. TIME OF DAMAGE BASED ON RADAR DATA. 0738 AM TSTM WND GST JESUP 31.60N 81.89W 04/13/2020 M41.00 MPH Wayne GA AWOS JESUP GEORGIA AWOS STATION KJES MEASURED A GUST TO 41 MPH. 0740 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 WNW DOCTORTOWN 31.67N 81.88W 04/13/2020 WAYNE GA TRAINED SPOTTER SNAPPED TREES, DAMAGE TO PORCH ROOF AND TOTALED GREENHOUSE. NEIGHBOR SINGLE-WIDE TRAILER BLOWN OFF FOUNDATION. 0910 AM TSTM WND GST 11 NNW STEPHEN FOSTER S 30.98N 82.40W 04/13/2020 M41.00 MPH Charlton GA MESONET THE REMOTE AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION IN THE NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP MEASURED A PEAK WIND GUST OF 41 MPH. 0940 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW KINGSLAND 30.81N 81.75W 04/13/2020 Camden GA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS THE CITY OF KINGSLAND POSTED INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA REGARDING A TREE DOWNED BY STRONG WIND GUSTS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF GEORGIA HIGHWAY 40 AND COLERAIN ROAD. TIME OF DAMAGE BASED ON RADAR DATA. 1009 AM TORNADO 1 WNW LIVE OAK 30.30N 83.01W 04/13/2020 Suwannee FL EMERGENCY MNGR AN EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTHEAST OF THE SUWANNEE COUNTY AIRPORT AND MOVED EAST-NORTHASTWARD ACROSS U.S. HIGHWAY 90, DAMAGING THREE BUILDINGS ADJACENT TO GOLDKIST BOULEVARD, INCLUDING PARTIALLY PEELING THE ROOF OFF OF THE FARMERS COOPERATIVE BUILDING. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EAST-NORTHEASTWARD WITH SPORADIC DAMAGE NEAR NOBLES FERRY ROAD AND HOUSTON AVENUE AND THEN LIFTED NEAR THE WALMART SUPERCENTER ADJACENT TO U.S. HIGHWAY 129. 1009 AM TORNADO 2 NW LIVE OAK 30.31N 83.01W 04/13/2020 SUWANNEE FL NWS STORM SURVEY ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 13TH, AN EF-O TORNADO WITH MAX WINDS OF 75 MPH TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NW SIDE OF LIVE OAK, GA NEAR THE FARMERS COOP. THE TORNADO WAS APPROXIMATELY 175 YARDS WIDE AND TRAVELED A SPOTTY 3 MILE PATH (LIFTING UP AND TOUCHING BACK DOWN AGAIN A FEW TIMES) BEFORE FINALLY LIFTING ON THE NE SIDE OF TOWN, JUST SOUTH OF THE WALMART. 1010 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW LIVE OAK 30.31N 83.01W 04/13/2020 Suwannee FL EMERGENCY MNGR SUWANNEE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS THREE DAMAGED ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 90 JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN LIVE OAK ALONG GOLDKIST BOULEVARD. THE ROOF OF THE FARMERS COOPERATIVE BUILDING WAS AT LEAST PARTIALLY TORN OFF. TIME OF DAMAGE BASED ON RADAR DATA. 1010 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 ESE NAHUNTA 31.17N 81.90W 04/13/2020 M2.43 INCH Brantley GA PUBLIC FORMER NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED 2.43 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN ABOUT 100 MINUTES ABOUT 6 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST OF NAHUNTA. 1016 AM TSTM WND DMG LIVE OAK 30.29N 82.99W 04/13/2020 SUWANNEE FL 911 CALL CENTER WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF TREES AND POWERLINES REPORTED ACROSS SUWANNEE COUNTY, FLORIDA. 0845 AM TSTM WND DMG 10 SW LIVE OAK 30.19N 83.10W 04/14/2020 Suwannee FL 911 CALL CENTER SUWANNEE COUNTY 911/DISPATCH REPORTED TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ALONG 144TH STREET NEAR LURAVILLE. TIME OF DAMAGE BASED ON RADAR DATA. 0850 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 NNW LURAVILLE 30.17N 83.20W 04/14/2020 Suwannee FL EMERGENCY MNGR SUWANNEE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED PHOTOS OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND A METAL SHED DAMAGED BY SUB-SEVERE WIND GUSTS. TIME OF DAMAGE BASED ON RADAR DATA. 1007 AM TSTM WND GST MAYPORT 30.38N 81.42W 04/14/2020 M43 MPH DUVAL FL AWOS AWOS STATION KNRB MAYPORT NAVAL STATION. 1010 AM TSTM WND GST 2 N MAYPORT 30.42N 81.41W 04/14/2020 M41 MPH AMZ452 FL MESONET MESONET STATION XHUP HUGUENOT PARK. 1255 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE MANNVILLE 29.62N 81.85W 04/14/2020 PUTNAM FL 911 CALL CENTER TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE NEAR INTERLACHEN. 0258 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 NNE COLUMBIA 30.13N 82.66W 04/15/2020 COLUMBIA FL EMERGENCY MNGR SNAPPED TREE FELL ON MOBILE HOME AND SHED CAUSING ROOFS TO CAVE IN. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0717 AM TORNADO 4 SSE JACKSONVILLE INTE 30.44N 81.67W 04/15/2020 Duval FL NWS STORM SURVEY DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON APRIL 15TH, AN EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE BISCAYNE DOWNS SUBDIVISION NEAR THE BROWARD RIVER JUST EAST OF INTERSTATE 95, DESTROYING A SUNROOM AND KNOCKING DOWN TREES ALONG SARASOTA LANE, RIVA RIDGE DRIVE AND SECRETARIAT DRIVE NORTH. THE TORNADO LIKELY LIFTED BEFORE CROSSING THE BROWARD RIVER, WITH SPORADIC DAMAGE THROUGH OCEANWAY BEFORE THE TORNADO CAUSED FURTHER TREE DAMAGE ALONG GROVER ROAD, BONEY ROAD AND STARRATT ROAD THROUGH BLACK HAMMOCK ISLAND. 0718 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW OCEANWAY 30.44N 81.67W 04/15/2020 DUVAL FL EMERGENCY MNGR MULTIPLE TREES DOWN NEAR SECRETARIAT LANE NORTH. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0718 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW OCEANWAY 30.44N 81.67W 04/15/2020 DUVAL FL BROADCAST MEDIA SNAPPED TREE FELL ON HOUSE NEAR SARASOTA LANE. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0736 AM TSTM WND DMG 5 ENE OCEANWAY 30.50N 81.55W 04/15/2020 DUVAL FL BROADCAST MEDIA UPROOTED TREES AND BROKEN TREE LIMBS ON PROPERTY NEAR GROVER ROAD AND STARATT ROAD. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0738 AM TSTM WND DMG 6 ENE OCEANWAY 30.50N 81.54W 04/15/2020 DUVAL FL BROADCAST MEDIA SNAPPED TREE FELL ON A TRUCK AND UPROOTED TREES FELL ACROSS BONEY ROAD. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. 0746 AM WATER SPOUT 4 NNW TALBOT ISLAND 30.52N 81.45W 04/15/2020 AMZ452 FL BROADCAST MEDIA VIDEO OF WATER SPOUT NEAR THE A1A BRIDGE FROM BIG TALBOT ISLAND TO AMELIA ISLAND. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. && $$
Environment
A potent shortwave trough was aloft of the southeast, enhancing divergence aloft as a strong cold front approached southeast Georgia and northeast Florida in the morning hours of April 13th. This piece of energy would lift northeastward, swinging off the mid-Atlantic coast later that day, causing the front to stall out over the area. The stalled frontal boundary would waver back and forth April 14th-15th. The jets at 500 mb and 300 mb both featured 90 kt winds aloft of JAX and even at 850 mb, winds were 65 kts.
4/13 12Z Surface Analysis | 4/13 12Z 850 mb Analysis | 4/13 12Z 500 mb Analysis | 4/13 12Z 300 mb Analysis |
Instability and shear were both available to be tapped into the morning of April 13th. 12Z RAP analysis showed 1000-2000 J/kg SBCAPE across southeast Georgia and northeast Florida, with over 2000 J/kg SBCAPE over the lower Suwannee Valley. Deep layer shear may have peaked over the Tennessee Valley at 90-100 kts, but there was still plenty available across our local area- about 50-60 kts across northeast Florida, 60-70 kts across southeast Georgia. Similarly, 12Z RAP analysis sowed low level (0-3 km) SRH peaked to our north across the mid-Atlantic at a whopping 1000 m2/s2, but 300-500 m2/s2 SRH was available locally. At KJAX, the 12Z sounding actually showed 546 m2/s2 0-1 km SRH and 771 m2/s2 0-3 km SRH with about 1300 J/kg SBCAPE and 63 kts effective shear. The Significant Tornado Parameter for the effective layer was 5.1, showing the environment was very favorable for not only the development of tornadoes, but of significant tornadoes (EF2 or greater).
4/13 12Z Surface Based CAPE | 4/13 12Z 0-6 km Shear | 4/13 12Z 0-3 km SRH | 4/13 12Z KJAX Sounding |
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