Hundreds fleeing Fast-growing wildfire in N Fla

[Anonymous]

I knew something wasnt right went I left work this afternoon and noticed the air was all smokey. Hope all evacuees are able to return soon...

From Channel4 news here in Jax
http://www.news4jax.com/news/3371870/detail.html
A fast-growing wildfire is moving out of Sante Fe Swamp and threatening more homes in Alachua and southern Bradford County. Smoke and ash from the blaze is blowing all the way to Jacksonville.

Red cross is preparing for up to 500 evacuees.... Animal shelter is also being set up

[Lindaloo]

I heard on the news that a section of 75 was closed near Ft. Lauderdale because of a fire. Visibility on that interstate was at 0. Hope Florida gets some much needed rain soon!!

[Anonymous]

Here in N Fla, looks like we MAY see some relief as a large complex of shwrs/tstorm is headed east from Tallahassee... with storms developing ahead of it... Hopefully we get enough rain with it to prevent lightning from starting more fires.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully this will help...

Code: Select all

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 382
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
500 PM EDT WED JUN 2 2004

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

       NORTHERN FLORIDA AND THE EASTERN PANHANDLE
       SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
       COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 500 PM UNTIL
1000 PM EDT.

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 70 STATUTE MILES
EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 65 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF SAVANNAH
GEORGIA TO 15 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF CROSS CITY FLORIDA.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
TORNADOES.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 378...WW 379...WW 380...WW
381...

DISCUSSION...LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS BOWING EWD ACROSS THE
ERN FL PANHANDLE AND WILL CONTINUE THE NEXT FEW HOURS. ACTIVITY IS
ALSO MOVING INTO S CENTRAL GA WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS
AND HAIL.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 26035.


[Aquawind]

Actually I am shocked it hasn't been worse!! I have seen alot of smoke lately but nobody seems to concerned yet..

[Amanzi]

I have had a severe thunderstorm warning today, gave us some nice heavy rain. (some flying lawn furniture and a couple oak limbs down) I went outside just now to watch another storm roll in and I can smell smoke, I have no idea where it is coming from or which direction (its raining now so I cant see any smoke, just smell it) Just hope the rain puts the fire out... or its just my neighbour's bad cooking again!

[simplykristi]

Stay safe, everyone!