Drought and fire risk persist
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We’ve got to talk about what’s going on around Jacksonville right now. When I checked the Exact Track 4D radar and drought monitor, things are looking extremely dry across our area. In fact, we’re dealing with an extreme to exceptional drought, and that includes over Lake City where conditions are truly serious. There’s really nowhere to go from exceptional drought except down in severity, and unfortunately that’s not expected anytime soon.
This dry stretch has me worried about fire danger, too. We’re picking up a lot of hot spots on radar—those show where a fire could be likely or may already be burning. While I haven’t seen any appreciable smoke in the area right now, the potential is real, so it’s something I’ll be watching closely.
Sunny, warm days in the forecast
The good news? It’s warm out, and if you’re like me, you’re excited for these beach days! My updated forecast puts us in the upper 70s and low 80s, with lots of sunshine. Jacksonville, you’re sitting at 77 degrees and it feels even warmer with a light breeze out there.
As for tonight, expect it to cool down to about 62 degrees—nice and comfortable if you’re out and about later in the day. I’m seeing a tiny chance of showers, mainly off The Gulf and out west toward places like Waycross and Lake City. Honestly, those showers are expected to be short-lived and not make much of a dent for us.
Looking ahead, those warm temps hold steady. We could see some areas make it to the low 80s through the weekend, with a slight dip back to the 70s by next Monday—but as always, I’ll keep you updated since the forecast can change.
Enjoy the outdoors—safely!
Days like these are why we love living in Jacksonville. Beaches are busy, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy some sun. If you’re headed out, don’t forget your sunscreen and stay hydrated, especially if you’re spending hours outside. The kids are coming home to 79 degrees this afternoon with clear, sunny skies for all those after-school plans.
Just a reminder—as nice as it is, the fire risk means you need to be cautious with anything that could spark outdoors. And if you have a great weather shot from your backyard or favorite beach spot, I’d love to see it! Share your photos with SnapJAX at https://www.news4jax.com/snapjax/.