EF1 Tornado — Jefferson, Florida

2024-03-09 · near Fincher, Jefferson, Florida

Event narrative

A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of straight-line wind damage on a plantation just east of Straw Pond north of Moccasin Gap Road. Winds were estimated to be at least 80 mph on this property. The storm then produced a tornado that touched down on a nearby plantation just east of Alberta Lake Road. Numerous softwood and hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted, being felled in multiple directions. Damage in this area was consistent with 100 mph winds which warrants an EF-1 rating. After causing minor damage as it crossed Veterans Memorial Drive, the tornado then paralleled T.S. Green Road in Leon County, which becomes Lake Road in Jefferson County, lifting just east of Norias Road in Jefferson County. Damage along this stretch of roads was also consistent with EF-1 damage with wind speeds generally estimated around 90 mph. The worst of the damage occurred just west of the intersection of Lake and Norias Roads, where winds were once again estimated at 100 mph.

Wider weather episode

A line of thunderstorms moved through the tri-state area ahead of a cold front. Severe weather and flash flooding accompanied this line, mainly across southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia, although a few trees were also blown down in northwest Florida. One tornado was reported in Dale County, AL, and another tornado briefly occurred in northeast Leon County, FL extending into Jefferson county, FL.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (30.6240, -84.0080)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1167779. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.