JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville and areas to our west, including Lake City, are in what’s classified as extreme to exceptional drought conditions.
That’s the very highest level, and you honestly can’t get any drier on the drought monitor.
I want to stress that we all need to keep water conservation in mind as we wait for rain to catch up.
At this point, there’s no official alert, but it’s a good time to think about ways to save where you can—Mother Nature isn’t making it easy for us.
Warm days and mild nights forecast
Despite the early morning haze, it’s beautiful out this week.
Temperatures are running above average—think upper 70s today, climbing into the low and mid-80s as the week goes on.
Jacksonville started off at 54 this morning, with spots like Macclenny and Waycross in the low to mid-50s and the beaches up around 60.
Overnight lows keep things comfortable in the lower 60s, so it should feel nice for any plans you have after sunset.
Don’t forget the sunscreen and your water bottle if you’re heading outside—the sun can still burn through clouds, and it’s going to feel a little muggy at times.
Rain chances limited
Our Exact Track 4D radar is picking up a few light showers over The Gulf and the Atlantic, but most will fizzle out before they reach us on land.
If anything does push through, expect it during the early afternoon hours, maybe between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.—nothing widespread, just those random sprinkles we wish could help more.
Officially, we’re tracking a 20% to 30% chance for rain each day this week, but it’s unlikely to be enough to make a real dent in our drought.
As for fire and smoke, our forecast doesn’t show anything significant at the moment, but this could change quickly if winds pick up or conditions stay this dry.
Got weather photos?
If you’re out and about and notice dry landscapes or those isolated showers, I’d love to see it! Snap and share your weather photos with the community at SnapJAX.