Jacksonville starts Friday with clear skies and temperatures around 59 degrees, but the calm will not last along the coast. Sunshine will push the high near 73 before a windy, unsettled weekend brings showers, rough surf, coastal flooding concerns and dangerous rip currents.
North winds will increase through Friday, reaching 7 to 17 mph with gusts up to 24 mph, while the chance of rain stays near zero. The National Weather Service in Jacksonville says a chance of showers will develop mainly along the coast Friday night.
The stronger coastal hazards mark a significant update from Thursday’s Hoodline forecast, with flooding and beach dangers now expected to persist into early next week.
Saturday Brings Showers And Stronger Gusts
Saturday will turn partly sunny but breezy, with a 50% chance of rain showers beginning after 8 a.m. The high should reach near 72 degrees, while northeast winds of 16 to 23 mph could produce gusts as high as 36 mph.
Showers will become more likely Saturday night, when the chance of rain rises to 60%. Northeast winds will remain strong, with gusts up to 30 mph.
Coastal Flooding And Rip Currents Raise Safety Concerns
A Coastal Flood Advisory for coastal northeast Florida was set to expire at 4 p.m. EDT Thursday, October 22, while a Coastal Flood Watch begins late Friday night and continues through Monday evening. Low-lying roads and property near the Atlantic coast, the Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Johns River could see flooding around high tide.
The high risk for rip currents continues through Monday evening. Surf is expected to build from roughly 6 to 7 feet Saturday to 8 to 10 feet Sunday and Monday, increasing the potential for beach erosion and dangerous swimming conditions.
Anyone heading to the beach should swim near a lifeguard and stay out of the water when conditions are rough. If caught in a rip current, float, avoid fighting directly against it and swim parallel to the shoreline when able.
Breezy Weather Lingers Into Next Week
Sunday will bring another chance of showers, a high near 71 and northeast winds of 20 to 23 mph. Monday and Tuesday should be mostly sunny with highs near 72, but brisk northeast winds will continue, while overnight lows dip to around 60 or 61 degrees.
A slight chance of showers returns Wednesday afternoon, followed by another chance Thursday. The extended forecast keeps temperatures in the low 70s during the day and points to a long stretch of breezy conditions, especially near Jacksonville’s beaches.
