JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Right now, it is seriously dry across Jacksonville and surrounding areas. I want you to know how important it is to stay extra careful out there.
We’re in an extreme drought across our entire viewing area, and that’s making wildfires and brush fires much more likely. I’ve seen a real increase in fire danger, and a lot of that comes from how parched the ground is.
Our Exact Track 4D Drought Monitor is lighting up in red. We’re also tracking a lot of smoke and some hotspots, especially up in Georgia. Wind is currently calm, which actually helps reduce the quick spread of flames, but the risk is still significant because everything is just so dry.
Many of these fires have started by accident, so a friendly reminder—let’s all be careful when we’re out and about.
Rain and storms expected to bring relief
Now for some good news: rain is on the way, and it’s expected to be just what we need!
For the next 12 hours or so, there won’t be much, maybe just a couple of very light showers that won’t really help much.
But there’s a much higher chance for big storms and downpours that will roll in later Thursday.
Some of these storms could be strong, with wind gusts, lightning, and heavy rain in the forecast.
We need to watch for wind and heavy downpours, which could get intense in spots. Most of the rain should move out by around 8 p.m., and then Friday is shaping up to be much calmer and mostly cloudy.
If you have plans for The Players golf tournament, expect Thursday to start fairly dry but showers and storms will likely push through by midday or afternoon.
Hot start but temperatures expected to drop
Today, it’s a toasty one. Temperatures are already starting out mild, and we’ll be pushing into the upper 90s this afternoon.
St. Augustine kicked off the morning at 70 degrees and Jacksonville at 66 degrees—so, yep, summer temps have definitely shown up early.
Once those storms pass through, cooler air is expected to follow. You’ll notice a big temperature drop by Friday and Saturday, with highs in the 70s. After the weekend, we warm right back up into the 80s, but by Tuesday, another cool down is likely.
For those tracking every temperature swing, keep checking The Weather Authority and Exact Track 4D for hourly updates.
If you’ve got photos or videos showing how the weather is affecting your neighborhood, I’d love to see what you’re experiencing! Share your shots with SnapJAX at news4jax.com/snapjax.