Strong winds beat the region when the cold front comes by. Why the ocean looks quiet despite the storm warning

Jacksonville, Fla. – Strong winds are usually the result of heavy storms, but this time the rain prevailed on Wednesday without difficult weather, but the consequences have left the windy weather after a cold front.

Strong winds came from a narrow pressure gradient between a departing low -pressure system over the large lakes and the cold front, which was penetrated on Wednesday through the afternoon. When the cold front drove past, the winds remained over 40 to 50 miles per hour at top speeds.

Cooler, dense air behind the front to the south and accelerated winds. This postfrontal environment can create a classic setup for gusty conditions, especially in combination with dry air impression from the northwest, which enables the dynamics of stronger winds to the surface.

Here are some top wind gusts of County:

Jacksonville – 52 miles per hour (03.03.05, 2:40 p.m.)

Jacksonville NAS – 48 miles per hour (03.03.06, 12:39 p.m.)

Mayport Naval Station – 48 miles per hour (03.05.05, 10:34 a.m.)

St. Augustine – 43 miles per hour (03.03.06, 1:07 a.m.)

Palm Coast – 43 miles per hour (03.03.05, 12:30 p.m.)

Saint Augustine Beach – 39 miles per hour (03.05.05, 10:00 a.m.)

Yulee – 39 miles per hour (03.03.05, 4:48 p.m.)

Fernandina Beach – 38 miles per hour (03/06, 12:18 p.m.)

Palatka Airport – 38 miles per hour (03.03.05, 4:55 p.m.)

Gale warning issued

In response to the same strong pressure gradient and the same cold that affected the region, Gale-Force winds can develop and extend the threat beyond land into the coastal waters.

A storm warning was issued to warn Mariners of the dangerous winds at sea. The National Weather Service spends a Gale warning when persistent winds are between 34 and 47 knots (39 to 54 miles per hour). These strong winds create dangerous conditions for small craft, which often lead to a rough lake and a dangerous navigation.

Why does the ocean look so flat?

Despite the Gale warning, the conditions on Thursday seem to be calmer due to the strong offshore winch. When winds blow from the country towards the ocean, push surface water from the shore away and reduce the shaft heights along the immediate coast. This effect is particularly striking after a cold front when the winds shift from the northwest or west.

However, this calm appearance near the beach is misleading. Further off the coast, where the wind has a longer fetch and more time to transfer energy to the surface of the sea, waves build on dangerous heights. For example, Boje 41010 Winde reported 47 miles per hour with 15-foot seas.

The strong difference between nearby and offshore conditions is shown in photos of a camera that is mounted on the buoy and is significantly larger waves off the coast compared to the flat conditions observed on the beach.