Jacksonville is starting Friday, July 31, with mostly clear skies and temperatures around 76°F, but the calm opening will not last. The heat index could reach 106°F before showers and thunderstorms become likely after 2 p.m., with a 60% chance of rain. The pattern turns wetter and stormier Saturday through Monday, when heavy downpours could cause localized flooding.
Heat Builds Before Afternoon Storms
Mostly sunny skies will push temperatures toward a high near 94°F before readings ease toward 90°F later in the afternoon. Southwest winds should stay light at 3 to 8 mph, while storms become more likely from midafternoon into the evening. The National Weather Service Jacksonville says rainfall totals could reach a tenth to a quarter-inch, with heavier pockets possible.
Storm coverage should be greatest south of Interstate 10 and toward the coast, although any neighborhood could see a quick downpour or lightning. A few stronger storms may produce sudden gusts, and forecasters have warned that isolated thunderstorms could bring winds of 40 to 60 mph through the weekend.
Storm Chances Rise Saturday And Sunday
Friday night brings a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., followed by mostly cloudy skies and a low around 76°F. Rainfall amounts could reach a quarter to a half-inch in spots. Saturday looks stormier overall, with a 70% rain chance after 11 a.m., a high near 91°F and heat-index readings as high as 103°F.
Sunday remains unsettled, with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, a high near 90°F and southwest winds of 9 to 14 mph with gusts up to 21 mph. Heavy, repeated downpours could create street flooding in low-lying and urban areas, especially where storms move over the same neighborhoods more than once. Inland areas may see more widespread rain than the immediate coast.
Unsettled Pattern Lingers Into Next Week
Showers and thunderstorms remain likely Monday, with a high near 90°F and another 70% rain chance. Tuesday stays warm near 93°F with a 60% chance of storms, while rain chances ease to 40% Wednesday and 30% Thursday as the region shifts toward a more typical afternoon-storm pattern.
The forecast currently lists no watches or warnings for Jacksonville, but the combination of heat, lightning, heavy rain and gusty storms still calls for caution. Plan strenuous outdoor activities for the morning when possible, keep water nearby, and move indoors as soon as thunder is heard.
