Severe Weather Updates
12:30 — From the U.S. Weather Service: Expect a band of severe storms to hit Amelia Island about 1:30 p.m. The area is under a tornado watch until 6 p.m. Coastal flooding is expected.
1:00 — From the U.S. Weather Service: Line of storms moving into western Nassau County. Eastern county should feel them soon. Expect coastal flooding to begin 2:00-2:30. Flooding expected to be moderate, 4-5 feet.
1:30 — From the U.S. Weather Service: The squall line is touching Eastern Nassau. Gust forecasts now up to 60 mph.
2:00 — From the U.S. Weather Service: A marine warning issued from St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach. Gusty winds picking up on shore, along with some thunder and light rain.
2:30 — From the U.S. Weather Service: The eastern edge of the squall line is running northeasterly along our coast. Thunder at times and brisk gusts at times. The squall line is thinning out into a thin tail. Next update at 3:30. Tornado warnings continue until 6:00. Nassau County issues severe thunderstorm warning.
3:30 — No sooner had Nassau authorities declared the storm warning over, than it started raining buckets and another storm warning was issued and by 4:00, streets were flowing like rivers.
5:00 — All is calm. What a crazy weather day!
City Hall
City Offices will be closed to the public at 12:30 today due to the severe weather threat. Offices will reopen for regular business hours on January 10, 2023.
The Shave Bridge
The Thomas Shave bridge is NOT closed. Here is what you need to know:
* The bridge does not “close.” Traffic flow is temporarily suspended IF winds exceed 39 mph sustained for more than one minute.
* IF the traffic flow is suspended, the suspension is lifted when the wind speed decreases (below 39 mph sustained).
* There is no schedule and no predetermined period for suspensions. All suspensions are unpredictable and temporary.
Schools
All Nassau County schools are closed
Meetings
– Parks & Recreation Committee – canceled
Downtown and Nearby Closings
- The Book Loft
- Shady Ladies Art Studio
- Peck Center
- Wild Nite at the Peck Center – canceled
- The Hawaiian Soap & Trading Co.
- Wadsworth Color Wear, Harbor Wear, Across the Pond – closing at 2 p.m.
- 1099 Coworking LLC
- Cottonways – closing early
- Debonair
- Ship’s Lantern
- Corner Copia
- Sea Jade
- The courthouse is closed
- Starbucks on Sadler
The weather did what it always does, and it was a beautiful, rainy, stormy day. It was the weather channels’ response to it that made it crazy.
Wow……if everybody thought that was going to be bad, better get ready for a closure once a week in spring and summer! I’ve seen worse weather in a May squall line! You will see that same type of line several times this year…..
Anybody lose power? Any trees down? Did the SUSTAINED wind ever come within 10mph of closing a bridge? Mid 20’s sustained was all I saw……
Other than the safety of school children in the afternoon, the over-reaction was ridiculous! I’ll start counting the “better safe than sorry” comments earlier this year, I guess. But, it was nice to have ample parking available!