Landspout-Capable Storm Tracks Across Baker, Clay Counties
Strong thunderstorm with landspout potential and 40 mph wind gusts moves through Baker and Clay counties, threatening eight communities including Macclenny and Baldwin.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — A strong thunderstorm capable of producing landspouts moved across northern Baker and Clay counties Tuesday afternoon, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a special weather statement for multiple communities.
At 12:34 p.m. EDT, Doppler radar tracked the storm near Maxville, approximately 12 miles north of Middleburg, moving northwest at 5 mph, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville office.
Storm Hazards and Impacts
The thunderstorm posed threats of landspouts and wind gusts reaching 40 mph. Weather officials warned that minor damage to outdoor objects was possible, with gusty winds capable of knocking down tree limbs and blowing around unsecured items.
Radar data indicated the storm’s potential for producing dangerous weather conditions as it tracked slowly across the region.
Communities in Storm’s Path
The weather statement identified eight locations in the storm’s impact zone: Macclenny, Glen St. Mary, Cecil Field, Maxville, Bryceville, Oakleaf Plantation, Baldwin, and Whitehouse Air Field.
These communities, spanning portions of Baker and Clay counties, faced the possibility of brief but potentially damaging weather conditions as the storm system passed through the area.
The slow-moving nature of the storm, traveling at just 5 mph, meant extended exposure to the hazardous conditions for affected areas. Landspouts, while typically weaker than tornadoes, can still cause significant damage to property and pose safety risks to residents caught outdoors.
Weather officials used radar technology to track and monitor the storm’s development and movement, allowing them to issue timely warnings to communities in its projected path.
