Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia experienced a series of strong storms on Tuesday afternoon, marked by heavy rains, strong winds, and thunderstorms. Fortunately, the region largely escaped widespread storm damage and flooding, but there were still significant impacts for many residents.
Drone video shows the damage in Panama City Beach, Florida, after a tornado tore through early Tuesday morning. pic.twitter.com/owR5bPTaJC
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) January 9, 2024
A Tornado Watch was in effect for the entire area on Tuesday, with Tornado Warnings issued for multiple counties. The storm, characterized by a fast-moving and thin squall line with winds exceeding 60 mph, progressed from west to east from early afternoon into the evening. It was set to expire by 6 p.m.
The National Weather Service received an unconfirmed report of widespread wind damage and a possible tornado south of Bayard in Jacksonville. Meanwhile, in Baker County, lightning struck a home, igniting a fire, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.
One of the hardest-hit areas in Northeast Florida was the Julington Creek region, where the storm system quickly passed through around 4 p.m., leading to reports of downed trees. Power outages were widespread, with 4,600 JEA customers affected at the peak, particularly along Race Track Road.
Neptune Beach residents observed damage including a neighbor’s deck being torn off and tree limbs snapped. In contrast, Baldwin experienced a darkening sky and heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning, but the storm moved away swiftly.
Clay County, familiar with the challenges of flooding, especially in areas like Black Creek, saw heavy rains but no significant flooding issues. Approximately 2,000 people were without power, and efforts were underway to restore it.
St. Augustine, known for its historic downtown, saw a few people out and about during the storm’s peak, but no flooding was reported. Similarly, Jacksonville avoided any major problems from the storm, which delivered 1-2 inches of rain across most of the area.
Other regions in Florida faced more severe conditions. The Panhandle reported at least four tornado touchdowns, resulting in the destruction of several homes and businesses. While there were injuries, no fatalities had been reported as of early afternoon.