JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 If you\u2019ve been keeping an eye on your lawns or noticing the dry air lately, you\u2019re not alone. Drought conditions are the big story for us right now, and I\u2019m tracking it closely. The latest drought monitor puts much of our area under significant dryness, which means fire danger is elevated heading into the week.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re planning outdoor activities or burning anything, keep in mind the increased fire risk. We\u2019ll talk more about when some rain might arrive and if we can expect any relief from this drought at 6:15 a.m. on News4JAX. I know folks are anxious for updates, so I\u2019ll have more soon.<\/p>\n
Temperatures soaring, spring-like warmth<\/p>\n
You might want to keep those shorts handy. Temperatures started in the mid-50s to 60 this morning, with places like Orange Park at 57 and the beaches around 60. By about 3 p.m., many of you will see highs near 78. Some spots could even push into the lower 80s\u2014pretty warm for February!<\/p>\n
Winds are calm early, but I do expect them to pick up a little through the day. By tonight, we should cool down to around 55 under partly cloudy skies with a gentle southwest breeze at 5 to 10 mph.<\/p>\n
Patchy fog to start your morning<\/p>\n
Visibility hasn\u2019t been a major issue early today, but there is a chance for patchy or even dense fog in some areas. I\u2019ll be watching that closely, so be careful if you\u2019re out and about walking the dog or heading to work, especially in low-lying spots. By noon, things should turn partly cloudy and temps will climb into the 70s\u2014great walking weather!<\/p>\n