JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A dry cold front is bringing a range of hazardous conditions to northeast Florida and southeast Georgia this weekend, from dangerous surf and rip currents along the coast to elevated fire danger inland.
Highs on Saturday will range in the upper 60s to low 70s in northeast Florida, mid-to-upper 60s in southeast Georgia under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Windy conditions will be the biggest hazard throughout the day.
Coastal wind, surf, rip current hazards
A Wind Advisory is in effect Saturday for gusts of 40–45 mph along the coast and the St. Johns River Basin. Inland areas — including Western Clay, Western Putnam, Bradford, Eastern and Western Alachua, and Union counties — are also under a Wind Advisory from 9 a.m. through midnight Saturday, with northeast winds of 20–30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph.
Expect gusty winds to blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could come down, and scattered power outages are possible.
A Gale Warning is in effect for all Atlantic waters from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. Boaters are urged to stay off the water if possible and secure vessels ahead of the system.
Beach conditions will be dangerous this weekend. A High Rip Current Risk is in effect from 8 a.m. Saturday through Monday evening, and a High Surf Advisory runs from 2 p.m. Saturday through 5 a.m. Monday. Breaking waves are expected to build to 5–7 feet Saturday afternoon, climbing to 8–10 feet Saturday night and Sunday.
Inexperienced swimmers should stay out of the water entirely. Those who do swim should do so near a lifeguard. Anyone caught in a rip current should relax, float, and avoid swimming against the current. If possible, swim parallel to the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
Elevated tide levels are also possible Sunday morning along the Atlantic Coast, which could compound beach erosion concerns.
Coastal hazard summary
- Wind Advisory: 9 a.m. Saturday – midnight Saturday; NE winds 20–30 mph, gusts to 40 mph (inland counties)
- Wind Advisory: All day Saturday along the coast and St. Johns River Basin; gusts 40–45 mph
- Gale Warning: Saturday morning – Sunday morning; all Atlantic waters
- High Rip Current Risk: 8 a.m. Saturday – Monday evening; all Northeast Florida beaches
- High Surf Advisory: 2 p.m. Saturday – 5 a.m. Monday; waves 5–7 ft. Saturday afternoon, 8–10 ft. overnight
- Elevated Tides: Possible Sunday morning along the Atlantic Coast
Fire danger, drought conditions
Inland Southeast Georgia is under a Red Flag Warning Saturday, with conditions ripe for rapid fire spread.
- Minimum relative humidity: 20–25%
- Northeast winds: 15–20 mph with gusts of 20–30 mph
Fire danger remains elevated elsewhere across the region as well. Those conditions are being worsened by ongoing drought. Extreme to Exceptional Drought conditions continue area-wide, leaving vegetation dry and highly combustible.
Residents in fire-prone areas should avoid any outdoor burning and report any signs of smoke or fire immediately.