This event featured all modes of severe weather in our forecast area, including 13 tornadoes, numerous reports of straight-line wind damage, and even large hail. The 13 tornadoes consisted of 1 EF3, 2 EF2s, 6 EF1s, and 4 EF0s. This is a very high number of tornadoes for our forecast area for a single event. This compares with 7 tornadoes in the 1/22/17 event, 8 tornadoes in the 1/2/17 event, and 10 tornadoes in the 3/1/07 event. This may have been the most tornadoes for a single event in our area since the Hurricane Ivan tornadoes back in 2004. The synoptic pattern was characterized by a fast-moving upper trough through relatively zonal flow. The forecast area was under the favorable right entrance region of the upper jet with lots of upper level divergence. An 850 mb jet near or in excess of 50 knots was also present, which is another typical ingredient for severe weather in this part of the country in the cool season. Cool season levels of shear (0-1 km shear > 30 knots and 0-6 km shear > 50 knots) were overlaid with moderate levels of instability (SBCAPE  1500 j/kg), as opposed to more typical winter SBCAPE < 500 j/kg. Without this strong low-level jet, the low-level shear values would have been weaker and we would have probably seen less tornadoes.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALTON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 16:43:00 to 03-MAR-19 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: DE FUNIAK SPRINGS ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Bob Sikes road was closed near Highway 331 due to trees across the road.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOLMES, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 16:45:00 to 03-MAR-19 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ESTO
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A power line was blown down in the Esto area.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOLMES, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 17:20:00 to 03-MAR-19 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: BONIFAY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down in the Bonifay area.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 17:30:00 to 03-MAR-19 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUNNY HILLS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A power line was blown down on Rex Circle.

Thunderstorm Wind in BAY, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 17:32:00 to 03-MAR-19 17:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: WESTBAY
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Panama City airport measured a wind gust of 62 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 18:00:00 to 03-MAR-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTHA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down in the Altha area via a photo.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 17:50:00 to 03-MAR-19 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOSSY POND
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Trees and power lines were blown down across Calhoun county.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 19:18:00 to 03-MAR-19 19:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: BRISTOL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A power line was blown down in Bristol.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIBERTY, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 19:45:00 to 03-MAR-19 19:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOSFORD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down in Hosford.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:20:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAUM
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees and power lines were blown down on Mahan Drive.

Tornado in WAKULLA, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:42:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:46:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWPORT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Scattered trees were blown down with a dual-pol tornadic debris signature on radar.  This is a rural area with no other damage reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAKULLA, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:30:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: WAKULLA SPRINGS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Fallen trees or limbs resulted in a power outage.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAKULLA, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:40:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: IVAN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees and power poles were blown down near the Walmart in Crawfordville.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAKULLA, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:40:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: WAKULLA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

A tree was blown down onto Woodville Highway.

Thunderstorm Wind in TAYLOR, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 21:20:00 to 03-MAR-19 21:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: SECOTAN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Fallen trees or limbs resulted in a power outage.

Hail in JEFFERSON, FLORIDA
From 01-MAR-19 10:50:00 to 01-MAR-19 10:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALMA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny to quarter size hail was reported along Fulford Road about 2 miles east of Highway 19.

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, FLORIDA
From 01-MAR-19 12:47:00 to 01-MAR-19 12:47:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOPEWELL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Fallen trees or limbs resulted in a power outage to 704 customers along SW State Route 14 via the Duke Energy outage map.

Hail in CALHOUN, FLORIDA
From 02-MAR-19 04:20:00 to 02-MAR-19 04:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOSSY POND
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball size hail was reported in northwest Calhoun county.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, FLORIDA
From 02-MAR-19 04:20:00 to 02-MAR-19 04:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOSSY POND
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees were snapped near the base.

Hail in CALHOUN, FLORIDA
From 02-MAR-19 04:50:00 to 02-MAR-19 04:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOUNTSTOWN ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Quarter size hail was estimated on the road between Blountstown and Altha.

Hail in CALHOUN, FLORIDA
From 02-MAR-19 04:53:00 to 02-MAR-19 04:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: NETTLE RIDGE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported penny size hail via mping.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEON, FLORIDA
From 02-MAR-19 07:25:00 to 02-MAR-19 07:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: SPRING HILL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Debris covered Springhill Road for at least 2 miles south of the Tallahassee airport.  Twisted and broken trees were also reported.

Tornado in WALTON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 16:28:00 to 03-MAR-19 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOSSY HEAD
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-0 tornado touched down on Eglin AFB property in Walton County. The tornado produced scattered tree damage before exiting the base near Pleasant Ridge Road. The tornado continued northeast, crossing I-10 just west of the U.S. 331 exit, and then dissipating just southwest of Defuniak Springs. Damage was primarily confined to trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOLMES, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 12:53:00 to 03-MAR-19 12:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: PITTMAN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down in Pittman.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALTON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 16:15:00 to 03-MAR-19 16:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: GASKIN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Scattered trees were blown down in the northern part of Walton county.

Tornado in GADSDEN, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 19:41:00 to 03-MAR-19 19:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: GREENSBORO
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This EF-1 tornado touched down just west of Pat Thomas Highway, FL Route 267, and just north of Cox Lane. The tornado flipped a single-wide mobile home upside down. On the opposite side of the highway, a couple of large pine trees snapped, one of which crashed through the roof of a home narrowly crushing a couple that were in bed at the time. Fortunately, no one was injured. The tornado continued east southeast roughly paralleling the CSX tracks. An aerial survey showed trees snapped along the route. Ground surveys showed damage to homes along Jim Williams road. The tornado reached its greatest strength at this point, snapping a few small utility poles, removing about half the roof of one home and damaging a couple of others. The tornado lifted just beyond the end of this road.  Damage cost was estimated.

Tornado in WAKULLA, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:06:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: SMITH CREEK
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-0 tornado touched down in the Apalachicola National Forest in far western Wakulla County producing a TDS on the TLH radar. Aerial survey confirmed that damaged was isolated to a few trees. The tornado did flip a small shed-sized metal canopy on Revadee Spears Road. There was some minor damage to a commercial sign on U.S. Route 319 just north of Linzy Store Road. Across the highway, a lone tree was snapped on the south end of the Walmart parking lot. No damage was found any further east.  Damage cost was estimated.

Tornado in WASHINGTON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 17:33:00 to 03-MAR-19 17:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUNNY HILLS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado touched down about 5 miles to the west of Alford, FL in Washington County. It proceeded northeast with multiple structures damaged throughout Washington County, mostly uplift of tin roofing material. Many freshly snapped trees were also seen in Washington County. At one residence, all of the tin roofing material was thrown across the street into the neighbors yard as all as a completely shredded trampoline, a dog pin that was 100 feet to the northeast and a collapsed garage door. The highest degree of damage was at a house near the county border with Jackson County where much of the tin was ripped from the roof, a small barn tumbled about 50 feet to the northeast as well as a metal canopy moving about 75 feet to the northeast. The tornado continued to move into Jackson County, FL and lifting about 1.5 miles north of Alford, FL. In Jackson County, the main damage was also to the tin roofing material with at least one double wide seeing all of the wood, shingles and tin removed from a quarter of the house. At another residence, a small outbuilding was lifted, flipped over and landed up against the house, completely destroyed. A few snapped and uprooted trees were also noted in Jackson county.  Damage cost was estimated.

Tornado in JACKSON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 17:37:00 to 03-MAR-19 17:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALFORD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is a continuation of the EF1 tornado from Washington county.  In Jackson County, the main damage was also to the tin roofing material with at least one double wide seeing all of the wood, shingles and tin removed from a quarter of the house. At another residence, a small outbuilding was lifted, flipped over and landed up against the house, completely destroyed. A few snapped and uprooted trees were also noted in Jackson county.  Damage cost was estimated.

Tornado in JEFFERSON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:24:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:31:00 (EST-5)
Location: LLOYD
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is a continuation of the Leon county tornado.  The Jefferson county portion of this tornado was rated EF2 due to significant tree damage in the area.  The tornado continued moving east and crossed into Jefferson County near Tradition Way.  Numerous pine trees in this area were snapped between 6 and 10 feet above the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALTON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 16:40:00 to 03-MAR-19 16:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT RIDGE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

All I-10 eastbound lanes were closed near mile marker 83 due to downed trees.

Tornado in LEON, FLORIDA
From 03-MAR-19 20:18:00 to 03-MAR-19 20:24:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAUM
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A EF-3 tornado, with maximum winds of 140 mph, that tracked 6.5 miles across far Eastern Leon County and into extreme Western Jefferson County. This tornado initially touched down near the intersection of US-90 and Crump Road in eastern Leon County.
Damage in this area was limited primarily to snapped trees. The tornado intensified after moving east of US-90 and destroyed an outbuilding on Wadesboro Rd just west of Baum Road. After crossing Baum Road, the tornado reached peak intensity in the vicinity of Steeds Run. In this area two homes were destroyed. Damage with both homes was consistent with a low-end EF-3 tornado. All exterior walls were collapsed and some of the debris was blown well off the foundation. Additionally, cars located near a home were lofted and moved from a parked position in front of the home. Maximum winds in this area were estimated at 140 mph. The tornado continued moving east and began to weaken. Even so, damage in far Eastern Leon County on Jefferson Rd South near Driftwood Circle was still significant with multiple power poles snapped and numerous trees snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued moving east and crossed into Jefferson County near Tradition Way.  Numerous pine trees in this area were snapped between 6 and 10 feet above the ground.
From a historical perspective, this is the second tornado rated F3 or EF3 in Leon County since 1945. Accordingly, this makes the March 3rd tornado the 2nd strongest tornado to affect Leon County since 1945.  Damage cost was estimated.