Wednesday, March 18, 2026, started on a nippy note in Jacksonville, with a cool, partly cloudy sky overhead and coastal temperatures stuck in the upper 40s while some inland spots flirted with freezing. A Freeze Warning remains in effect through 9 a.m. for a few inland neighborhoods, so lawns and unprotected garden plants could wake up with a frosty glaze, and drivers may find icy windshields lurking in the shady stretches.
Sun, Breeze And A Little Chill
Through the day Wednesday, expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 62°F, with north winds running about 8-15 mph and afternoon gusts up to roughly 23 mph. Skies should stay dry with only a slight chance of a shower sneaking through. According to the National Weather Service, inland areas will manage to warm a few degrees higher, while the coastline hangs on to the cooler side of the thermometer.
Morning Freeze, Coastal Differences
Inland neighborhoods west of the St. Johns River and out toward I-75 saw the coldest readings and the best chance of frost early today, while near-shore areas held in the upper 30s to mid-40s. If you have vulnerable plants, they still need some protection, pets are better off indoors when you can manage it, and commuters should build in a few extra minutes to scrape or defrost any frosty car windows.
Beach And Boating Hazards
For anyone beach-bound, a moderate rip current risk is expected at local beaches this afternoon. Onshore N-NE winds will strengthen tonight into Thursday and could bump rip current risk up to high for northeast Florida beaches on Thursday. A Small Craft Advisory is expected for Northeast Florida waters Thursday, so recreational boaters should secure loose gear and think twice about heading out on exposed trips. The National Weather Service has the latest marine and rip-current guidance online.
Warm-Up Later This Week
Temperatures start to relax out of their chilly mood toward the end of the week, with mid-70s on tap by Friday and upper 70s to mid-80s possible Sunday into Monday as a southerly flow returns. The next shot at scattered showers or storms looks to hold off until Monday night into Tuesday; until then, the forecast through the weekend stays locked on dry and warm.
Quick Safety Tips
If you have outdoor plants, keep them covered until late morning and disconnect hoses to help protect exposed spigots. At the beach, stick close to a lifeguard stand and check conditions before you dive in, since surf and rip risk can change faster than the water warms up.
