Tropical Storm Elsa tracked NNE across the western tier of the local forecast area through the day on Wed, July 7th. The storm made landfall along the FL Big Bend coast. The main impacts from TS Elsa for the local area included 3 confirmed tornadoes, downed trees due to gusty winds, and heavy rainfall which caused river flooding. There was one loss of life due to a tree falling onto a car. Peak rainfall amount was near 7.2 inches in Alachua county and the peak recorded wind gust in a squall was 58 mph in Jekyll Island GA.

Heavy Rain in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUDA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured storm total rainfall of 5.99  inches.

Heavy Rain in UNION, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 22:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CLIFTONVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured 4.09 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in SUWANNEE, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:30:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: FALMOUTH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 3.55 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in NASSAU, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:38:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: ONEIL
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 3.49 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:35:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: BUDA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 3.30 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in BAKER, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:30:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: TAYLOR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 3.09 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in COLUMBIA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BENTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured 3.02 inches of storm total rainfall.

Flood in BAKER, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 14:30:00 to 07-JUL-21 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: MANNING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Water covered the road near Clet Harvey Road.

Tropical Storm in BAKER, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 11:30:00 to 07-JUL-21 14:37:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

At 1230 pm EDT, Baker County Fire Rescue reported trees were blown down across both lanes of I-10 near mile marker 317 in the Osceola National Forest. At 3 pm EDT, the Baker County Emergency Manager reported trees were blown down in Macclenny and power was out across the city. At 337 pm EDT, Baker County Fire Rescue reported small hardwood trees were snapped at the base near Woodlawn Road and Chad Road. There were additional power outages south of Macclenny. A tree was blown down and blocked both lanes of State Road 228 near Maxville.

Heavy Rain in BRADFORD, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEW RIVER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured 3.71 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:31:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:31:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAGUE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 7.20 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:35:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: PHIFER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 5.86 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:37:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALACHUA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 5.81 inches of rainfall.

Heavy Rain in COLUMBIA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELLISVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured 4.68 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in HAMILTON, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: AVOCA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured 4.34 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in CLAY, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:35:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: LAKE GENEVA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site measured 4.11 inches of storm total rainfall.

Heavy Rain in COLUMBIA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FT WHITE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

An observer measured 3.94 inches of storm total rainfall.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUVAL, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 16:10:00 to 07-JUL-21 16:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOWDEN
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

At 5:10 pm EDT, the broadcast media reported trees and power lines down across the road at the intersection of University Blvd and Interstate 95, which caused power outages. The cost of damage was estimated for inclusion of the event in Storm Data.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUVAL, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 14:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MAXVILLE
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were blown down across both lanes of State Road 228 in Maxville. The cost of damage was estimated.

Flood in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 08-JUL-21 05:25:00 to 08-JUL-21 05:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: ARREDONDA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

The Florida State Watch office reported that West Newberry Road (State Road 26) was closed west of Interstate 75 due to flood water covering the road. This included SR26 between the 8,000 to 10,000 blocks.

Tropical Storm in NORTHERN COLUMBIA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 06:35:00 to 07-JUL-21 06:35:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

At  735 am EDT, A tree was blown down over the road on I-10 westbound at mile marker 309.  Additional tropical storm damage occurred at 670 SW Tamarac Lane which included trees blown down onto a mobile home which caused damage. The peak wind wind gust measured during TS Elsa in Columbia County was by the Lake City AWOS was 36 mph at 115 pm EDT.

Tropical Storm in WESTERN ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 10:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

At 11 am EDT, Alachua County Fire Rescue reported a tree was blown down in High Springs that blocked the road at NW 237 Street and NW 183 Place. Peak wind gusts during TS Elsa across Alachua county included 44 mph by the ASOS at the Gainesville Regional Airport at 1:01 pm EDT. The peak sustained wind measured at the GNV ASOS was 28 mph at 11:50 am. A mesonet site at the University of Florida in Gainesville measured a peak wind gust of 40 mph at 1220 pm EDT.

Tropical Storm in SUWANNEE, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 10:00:00 to 07-JUL-21 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Strong wind gusts knocked down up to 30 live oak trees and power lines in Dowling Park. The trees were uprooted and snapped.

Tornado in COLUMBIA, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 05:47:00 to 07-JUL-21 05:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: COLUMBIA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A brief EF0 tornado touchdown occurred in an outer band of Tropical Storm Elsa during the early morning hours, and impacted the property at 369 Raven Road, south of Lake City, in Columbia county. Emergency Management conducted a storm survey and observed soft and hard wood trees snapped and broken. A back porch with a metal roof was lifted and peeled back and adjoining plywood walls collapsed. Debris was strewn across the property. Maximum peak winds were estimated at 75 mph.

Tornado in DUVAL, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 15:45:00 to 07-JUL-21 15:51:00 (EST-5)
Location: SAN JOSE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A cyclonic supercell storm within an outer rain band of TS Elsa's east side produced two tornado touchdowns. The first touchdown occurred in south-central Duval County and then over eastern Camden County in SE Georgia. This report will focus on the Duval County damage. A NWS Storm Survey found that the tornado initially touched down along San Ardo Drive, just NE of Beauclerc. Large tree branches were snapped and damage occurred to residences near Goodby's Creek. The tornado continued to track northward through San Jose with EF-1 damage noted along Old King's Road South and Powers Avenue, just west of Baker-Skinner Park where several trees were completely uprooted. One large pine tree was  snapped and fell over a deck at the Heron Walk Apartment Complex. The tornado reached it's peak intensity and width as it crossed Phillips Highway and moved along Bowdendale Avenue where significant damage was noted to several industrial buildings. Damage to the buildings included metal siding ripped off and roofs peeled back, with debris lofted to the top of a nearby radio antenna tower. The tornado crossed Interstate 95 near the Bowden Road interchange, where large tree branches snapped and more roof damage occurred alogn Spring Park Road. The tornado weakened as it impacted University Christian School and then just northeast of Englewood High School, where tree branches were snapped along Daryl Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUVAL, FLORIDA
From 07-JUL-21 14:30:00 to 07-JUL-21 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: VENETIA
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A tree was blown down onto 2 cars on Roosevelt Blvd. One 25 yr old male driving one of the cars was killed instantly when the large tree fell onto his vehicle. Images broadcast by media suggested the tree base may have been rotted and impacted by termites. This did not appear to be a healthy tree.