The Storm Prediction Center issued an Enhanced Risk of severe weather for most of east central Florida. A strengthening low pressure system was moving across the southeastern U.S. with a strong cold front extending southwest across the Gulf of Mexico. A potent jet stream moved towards Florida with winds of 125 knots (approximately 145 mph), at the same time a low-level jet situated along the cold front moved over the Florida peninsula with winds of 50-60 knots (55-70 mph). The rapid increase and turning of winds with height in the atmosphere led to very high shear and helicity values over Florida. Also, a surge of moisture and daytime heating led to an increase in instability over east central Florida that helped strong to severe storms develop. By early morning, a squall line of thunderstorms began to move onshore in west central Florida and quickly push east across the peninsula. As this line of showers and storms approached the east central Florida coastline, it produced numerous reports of strong to severe wind gusts from Volusia County south through Martin County.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 13:20:00 to 20-DEC-18 13:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLAYALINDA BEACH
Magnitude: 35.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

US Air Force wind tower 1007 measured a peak wind gust of 35 knots from the south.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 13:35:00 to 20-DEC-18 13:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLAYALINDA BEACH
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

US Air Force wind tower 1007 measured a peak wind gust of 47 knots from the southwest.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 13:45:00 to 20-DEC-18 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLAYALINDA BEACH
Magnitude: 46.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

US Air Force wind tower 0019 measured a peak wind gust of 46 knots from the south-southwest.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 14:11:00 to 20-DEC-18 14:11:00 (EST-5)
Location: VERO BEACH
Magnitude: 38.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS at the Vero Beach Airport (KVRB) measured a peak wind gust of 38 knots from the south.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 15:19:00 to 20-DEC-18 15:19:00 (EST-5)
Location: VERO BEACH
Magnitude: 37.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS at the Vero Beach Airport (KVRB) measured a peak wind gust of 37 knots from the west.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 14:20:00 to 20-DEC-18 14:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLAYALINDA BEACH
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

US Air Force wind tower 1007 measured a peak wind gust of 50 knots from the west-southwest.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 14:35:00 to 20-DEC-18 14:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: CAPE CANAVERAL
Magnitude: 48.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

US Air Force wind tower 403 measured a peak wind gust of 48 knots from the southwest.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 14:35:00 to 20-DEC-18 14:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLAYALINDA BEACH
Magnitude: 45.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

US Air Force wind tower 3132 measured a peak wind gust of 45 knots from the southwest.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 14:38:00 to 20-DEC-18 14:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: MELBOURNE
Magnitude: 34.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The ASOS at the Melbourne International Airport (KMLB) measured a peak wind gust of 34 knots from the west.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 0-20NM, ATLANTIC SOUTH
From 20-DEC-18 15:50:00 to 20-DEC-18 15:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: STUART
Magnitude: 40.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Weatherflow site XJEN at Jensen Beach measured a peak wind gust of 40 knots from the west-southwest.