Jacksonville is waking up Saturday near 79°F with thick humidity, and the weather is set to get stormier before it gets hotter. Showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread through the afternoon, keeping temperatures near 89°F before rain and clouds pull readings down into the mid-80s.
Storms Build Through The Afternoon
Showers may brush the area this morning, with the greatest storm coverage expected from early afternoon into the evening. Rain chances are around 70%, and while many spots could receive a quarter to half inch, the heaviest storms may produce torrential downpours, frequent lightning and localized flooding in urban areas and poor-drainage locations, according to NWS Jacksonville.
Beachgoers Face Dangerous Rip Currents
A Rip Current Statement is in effect for Northeast Florida beaches through late tonight. Dangerous currents can pull even strong swimmers away from shore, so beachgoers should stay near lifeguards; anyone caught in a rip current should relax, float and move parallel to the shoreline instead of swimming directly against it, according to National Weather Service beach safety guidance.
Saturday night will remain mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. The low will settle near 77°F, while southeast winds run from 3 to 12 mph.
Heat Builds Next Week
Sunday starts mostly sunny before afternoon storms return, with a high near 92°F and heat index values up to 105°F. Monday climbs to about 94°F with a smaller storm chance, then Tuesday through Friday bring highs around 95°F to 96°F, lower rain chances and heat indices near 110°F, according to the Jacksonville forecast office.
That hotter stretch could bring daily heat advisories, especially inland, where the afternoon will run warmer than along the coast. For now, Saturday's combination of heavy rain, lightning and slick roads is the bigger concern.
