JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 I know, it\u2019s Florida and you expect to be cozy by mid-March\u2014but here we are, one degree above freezing this morning in Jacksonville. <\/p>\n
According to Exact Track 4D, the early numbers had Jacksonville at 33, St. Augustine at 43, Brunswick at 30, and Waycross at 32. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s the kind of morning that makes you want to bundle up, even if (like me) you\u2019re down to the last turtleneck dress in the closet.<\/p>\n
The Weather Authority has a freeze warning and frost advisory in place until 9 a.m., especially for inland areas like Macclenny\u2014where it\u2019s hanging around 32 right now. <\/p>\n
You\u2019ll feel the difference with wind gusts in the teens and low 20s, and we\u2019ve got a strong area of high pressure pushing the cold down and keeping skies crystal clear.<\/p>\n
Weekend warming trend ahead<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s some good news: while today\u2019s high is expected to top out around 62 degrees (I know, not exactly pool weather), things are looking up by Friday. <\/p>\n
The forecast calls for highs moving into the 70s, and by the weekend, we\u2019re talking about some true spring weather with highs climbing into the 80s\u2014around 83 to 85 degrees.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re already making outdoor plans, you\u2019ll be happy to know rain chances look pretty slim, with only a 10% shot on Thursday and a slight bump to 20% next Tuesday.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s shaping up to be a fantastic stretch for beach days or anything outside.<\/p>\n
Dry spell brings drought and fire risk<\/p>\n
As nice as the sunshine feels, we can\u2019t ignore the drought monitor. <\/p>\n
Even with some recent rain, Exact Track 4D shows we\u2019re still in a deficit and those red \u201chot spots\u201d flagged by our radar mean fire risk is climbing. <\/p>\n
The National Weather Service is recommending watering your lawn no more than once a week. No one\u2019s grass is looking lush, but right now, water conservation is more important.<\/p>\n