Jacksonville started Tuesday, March 24, 2026, under partly cloudy skies and a mild 66°F, but the real action is along the coast, where strong onshore winds and a rough ocean are the main story. A Wind Advisory blankets the Atlantic shoreline through 8 p.m., with sustained northeast winds near 20–25 mph and gusts that could spike to 40–45 mph. Surf is expected to build to 6–8 feet, and a high rip-current risk is in place through Wednesday.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
The Wind Advisory is in effect for coastal Duval and Nassau counties until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Forecasters are calling for northeast winds around 20–25 mph, with the strongest gusts near the beaches and over open stretches of road. Those gusts can make life difficult for high-profile vehicles, send unsecured lawn chairs tumbling and knock down limbs, which may lead to isolated power outages. According to NWS Jacksonville, residents should tie down or bring in loose outdoor items and use extra caution on bridges and elevated ramps.
High Surf and Rip Currents
From northeast Florida into southeast Georgia, breakers will be large and unruly, with surf possibly reaching 6 to 8 feet in spots and a High Rip Current Risk continuing through Wednesday. That means dangerous swimming conditions and the potential for localized beach erosion. Inexperienced swimmers are urged to stay on the sand, and anyone who does go in the water should stick to areas staffed by lifeguards. As rip currents are a recurring hazard, Hoodline noted earlier in March when onshore flow tightens along the coast.
What To Expect This Week
Light rain showers remain possible this afternoon and again tonight, mainly hugging the coastline, with highs in the low to mid 60s and lows near 59°F. Wednesday should run warmer, with highs close to 72°F and a few spotty coastal showers. By Thursday, conditions are expected to turn dry and sunny with highs near 79°F. Looking ahead to the weekend, keep outdoor plans flexible, since another surge of onshore winds could kick up choppy seas again and bring a few more scattered coastal showers.
