Strong to severe storms moved across the local area during the early morning hours ahead of a potent cold front. Severe storms with wind gusts of 50-60 mph and tornadoes  moved inland from the Gulf of Mexico and tracked south of the I-10 corridor across NE Florida. Two EF1 tornadoes occurred, one in Marion county then another Putnam county between 8 am and 915 am. Strong pressure rises trailed the front during the late morning which caused high non-thunderstorm wind gusts of 40-55 mph into the afternoon.

Tornado in PUTNAM, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 09:03:00 to 12-MAR-22 09:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAMMOND
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A line of strong to severe storms moved west to east across Putnam County during the morning of Saturday, March 12th, ahead of a strong cold front. A supercell moving across southern Putnam county and produced an EF1 tornado with peak winds near 93 mph from about 4 miles W of Bakerstown to 3 miles NNE of Bakerstown. Damage along the path included downed and snapped trees, mostly in rural areas. The damage path began near South Georgetown Point Road, crossed U.S. Highway 17 and ended at Crescent Lake north of Clifton Road near Eagle Trail and Osprey Lane. One outbuilding has some structure damage between Duck Drive and Eagle Trail, just north of Clifton Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in FLAGLER, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 09:29:00 to 12-MAR-22 09:29:00 (EST-5)
Location: FLAGLER BEACH
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was blown down at Roberts Road and Beach Village Way. There was also minor damage at a construction site where unsecured door frames or window frames were blown out of concrete block construction.

Strong Wind in EASTERN ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 14:59:00 to 12-MAR-22 14:59:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Florida State Warning point relayed that all northbound lanes of Interstate 75 were closed in Gainesville due to a downed tree. Wind gusts around the time of this report were 40-50 mph across SE Georgia and NE Florida. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for this event to be included in Storm Data.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 07:43:00 to 12-MAR-22 07:43:00 (EST-5)
Location: AIR BASE
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The KGNV Gainesville ASOS measured a wind gust of 58 mph with a line of severe storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 08:15:00 to 12-MAR-22 08:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: YORK
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet station AV369 in Ocala measured a thunderstorm wind of 73 mph. Around this time, an EF1 tornado was passing nearby.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUVAL, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 08:30:00 to 12-MAR-22 08:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: CEDAR HILLS
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A few large trees were blown down near Blanding Blvd and Harlow Road. At the time of the damage, wind gusts of 40-45 mph were measured with thunderstorms moving east across Duval county. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for inclusion of this event in Storm Data.

Tornado in MARION, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 07:45:00 to 12-MAR-22 08:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: DUNNELLON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved east across Marion county early Saturday morning, March 12th. A tornado touched down in Dunnellon where a large billboard was knocked over and siding was peeled off of a small professional building. Trees were damaged, snapped and uprooted. The next concentration of damage was reported on the south and east sides of Ocala where many trees were blown down and/or uprooted. Powerlines were blown down and numerous residences and an apartment building had damage. Damage in Ocala concentrated near SW 44th Court where some structural damage occurred and tree and powerline damage occurred. Another damaged local was near SW 41st Street near the Paddock Park Apartments where extensive roof damage occurred due to a large tree falling on the building. The county had to open an emergency shelter to house about 6 people displaced from the tornado. The peak winds of the tornado were estimated near 110 mph.

Strong Wind in WESTERN ALACHUA, FLORIDA
From 12-MAR-22 17:40:00 to 12-MAR-22 17:40:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

State warning point relayed a report of a tree down on top of a home near 2812 NW 107th Street in Gainesville due to strong gusty winds. The original report stated from thunderstorm winds, but the thunderstorm activity was during the morning hours, not the afternoon at the time of the report. Non-thunderstorm wind gusts in the afternoon (non-convective) were 45-55 mph at times. There were no injuries or need for assistance. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for inclusion of the event in Storm Data.