JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This morning is shaping up to be a cold one, and that’s not a word I use lightly.
A Freeze Warning is in effect until 9 a.m. Monday across most of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect until 10 a.m.
Right now, wind chills are pushing parts of our area to feel like they’re in the teens. That’s dangerous for anyone who spends too much time outside, especially kids standing at the bus stop.
On Exact Track 4D I’m seeing temperatures at 39 degrees in Jacksonville and right at freezing up toward Waycross. But it feels even colder—Waycross is closer to 27 degrees once you factor in the wind.
If you’re in Macclenny, Lake City, Waycross, or Valdosta, it could easily feel like you’re in the teens this morning. Even here in Jacksonville, the “feels like” drops to 34 degrees through the 8 a.m. hour.
Don’t expect significant improvement until mid-to-late morning. And it doesn’t warm up fast.
Tomorrow morning, it’s expected to feel like the 20s again. This cold snap is likely to linger for another day.
Wind advisories and high gusts
That’s not all we’re tracking. A Wind Advisory is also active across the area.
Sustained winds are in the 20s, and gusts have already reached 39 miles per hour at the coast. I’m forecasting that coastal gusts could top 40 miles per hour before the day is done.
If you’ve got things outside that might blow away, definitely bring them in. The heaviest gusts, especially at the beaches, are expected to hang around until at least late afternoon. Even when the winds settle a bit, it’ll still feel plenty cold.
Looking ahead: Midweek warmup
There’s some good news in the seven-day forecast. Today and tomorrow will be cold and dry, without rain complicating things, but by Wednesday things are expected to shift.
We’re likely to see a small chance of rain by midweek. Exact Track 4D puts the chance at just 10 percent for now, and any showers should be pretty light.
After that, you can look forward to a nice warm-up—temperatures are expected to be back in the mid 70s before the week is out. Trust me, it’ll feel a lot better soon!
If you’re seeing crazy wind or frost in your neighborhood, I’d love to see your photos. Send them in on SnapJAX at https://www.news4jax.com/snapjax/.