Significant drought still impacting area
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you’ve been hoping for a little rain, I know it’s been a tough wait. As I shared on News4JAX with The Weather Authority, parts of Jacksonville and our neighbors to the north are dealing with a significant drought. Georgia is seeing the worst of it, especially in some of the northern regions.
Our Exact Track 4D radar is showing clear skies for the next few days, meaning we get a dry weekend. That’s great for weekend plans but not so great for our soil and water supply. We’re not expecting meaningful rain through Sunday. There’s a slim chance for spotty showers Monday and Tuesday, but even those are likely to be light and scattered, coming in off the Atlantic.
The drought is tough on lawns, gardens, and local waterways. We really do need some decent rainfall soon, but there’s no solid sign of relief in the immediate outlook.
Cold mornings with quick warmups
This morning, you probably felt that brisk chill—Jacksonville started at 37 degrees, and it only felt a couple of degrees warmer when I checked the wind. Temps along the coast hovered in the 40s, with a bit of a breeze, especially out by the water where those wind gusts can hit 10 to 15 mph.
If you’re up early for a walk or catching the sunrise, an extra layer is definitely your friend. By late morning, though, you’ll notice it getting a lot more comfortable. Today’s parade starts with clear and cool air at 8 a.m. (47 degrees), goes sunny by 10 a.m., and then we’re up to 64 degrees by noon. That’s a quick warmup!
For folks out Christmas shopping or running weekend errands, expect highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., it’ll cool from the 60s into the high 50s, so keep a light jacket handy for the evening.
Looking ahead: lots of sun, above average temps
The trend for Jacksonville is staying above average for December, according to all the temperature outlook models on News4JAX. We’re heading for a run of sunny days—seven out of the next seven are forecast to be clear and bright.
Highs over the weekend and into next week are expected in the 70s, from 70 degrees on Saturday to 72 on Sunday, and reaching as high as 75 by midweek. Nighttime lows will stay comfortable too, mainly in the 40s and low 50s.
If you’re planning any outdoor activities—golf, kids’ sports, maybe some time at the beach in the afternoon—it’s going to feel phenomenal out there. These mild days won’t last forever, but enjoy them while you can. And don’t forget: if you see anything worth sharing—sunny skies, cool sunrises, or your own weather adventures—send it over to SnapJAX at news4jax.com/snapjax/.