Jacksonville woke up under a gray, hazy blanket Wednesday, with patchy fog hugging the Atlantic beaches and the St. Johns River and temperatures sitting in the low 60s. By mid-morning, sunshine is expected to take over and push afternoon highs into the upper 70s, with a southerly breeze turning the air sticky and muggy.
Rip Currents and Beach Safety
The National Weather Service has a Rip Current Statement in effect for northeast Florida beaches through this evening and is warning about dangerous rip currents and surf that can sweep away even strong swimmers. Officials advise beachgoers to stick to lifeguarded areas, follow posted flags and lifeguard directions, and remember that if you are caught in a rip current, you should float and call or wave for help rather than fight the current.
Heat, Gusts and a Weekend Flip
Skies stay mostly sunny today with a high near 79°F, and the warmup only intensifies with low-80s expected tomorrow and mid-80s on Friday and Saturday, which could challenge record highs at some climate sites. South to southwest winds around 6 to 13 mph are forecast this afternoon with gusts near 20 to 22 mph, so it is a good idea to secure loose outdoor items and be ready for gusty pockets near the coast.
A weak cold front is on track to arrive late Saturday into Saturday night, bringing a chance for showers and isolated storms. Behind it, a much cooler and drier airmass settles in Sunday into Monday, with highs only in the 50s and overnight lows dropping to near freezing across inland areas, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville forecast.
What To Expect and How To Prepare
Today brings patchy fog before 9 a.m., then mostly sunny skies by mid-day and a noticeably breezy setup near the beaches, so steer clear of unguarded swimming spots. Heading into the weekend, expect increasing chances for showers and storms late Saturday, with Small Craft Advisory conditions likely late in the weekend into early next week, meaning boaters should check marine conditions carefully before heading out.
By Monday, plan for a sharp temperature drop inland and take steps to protect sensitive plants and exposed pipes, especially if you are away from the coastline where temperatures will be less extreme.
More Coverage
We reported on the region's elevated winds and rip-current risk in our Feb. 15 update; you can revisit that pattern and timing in our earlier coverage on wind-whipped Jacksonville. We will post updates if advisories change.
