Drought hits \u201cexceptional\u201d in Jacksonville<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 I want you to know right up front\u2014our drought monitor is showing some of the most extreme conditions we\u2019ve seen lately. We\u2019re in the \u201cexceptional\u201d category in some areas around Jacksonville and The Weather Authority\u2019s Exact Track 4D radar just isn\u2019t picking up any incoming rain.<\/p>\n
Exceptional is the highest drought level we can experience. It\u2019s downright dangerous, and it means we need to take that fire risk very seriously. You might already be hearing reminders to conserve water; I recommend watering lawns only once a week for now. I\u2019m cheering you on\u2014most people are already pitching in to help, which is great!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re like me and love a fire pit, I can\u2019t stress this enough: let\u2019s skip it for now. What starts as a cozy backyard night could turn into a neighborhood emergency. The risk is real, and we don\u2019t want any insurance nightmares or worse.<\/p>\n
Hot, dry weather sticks around<\/p>\n
It\u2019s another beautiful\u2014and, yes, hot\u2014day across our area. Right now, we\u2019re expected to reach highs near 89 degrees, especially around Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Brunswick, Waycross, and Macclenny. Even the coast is quickly warming up, with spots like Orange Park well into the 80s.<\/p>\n
I know a lot of folks are excited for the Jumbo Shrimp opening game tonight\u2014I am, too! Here\u2019s the forecast: by game start at 7 p.m., mostly clear skies and 81 degrees, dropping to 75 by 9 p.m. and 71 around 11 p.m. It\u2019s looking great for baseball, just don\u2019t forget extra hydration if you\u2019re attending.<\/p>\n
Checking the Exact Track 4D radar, we\u2019re not expecting any rain today. Over the weekend, there\u2019s a slight chance\u2014about 10 percent\u2014of a stray shower drifting in off the Atlantic, but most of us will stay dry. There was a bit of fog this morning in very select areas, so if you saw reduced visibility on your commute, that\u2019s probably what happened.<\/p>\n
Stay safe and beat the heat<\/p>\n
This kind of heat calls for some TLC! Keep water handy all day. Sunscreen is a must, even if it looks partly cloudy. If you\u2019re able, maybe treat yourself to a beach half-day\u2014but make it with plenty of water breaks.<\/p>\n
Fire safety is at the top of my mind. As much as I love backyard fires, it\u2019s just not safe while drought levels are this high. One spark can quickly become a much bigger problem.<\/p>\n
And a quick note for all the families: expect the kids home to sunny skies and temperatures around 83 degrees this afternoon.<\/p>\n