JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 I\u2019m seeing the drought in our area get worse, not better. Right now, we\u2019re talking about \u201cexceptional\u201d conditions on the drought monitor, especially from Macclenny down into Jacksonville. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s the most serious drought level, and it\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m tracking on News4JAX\u2019s Exact Track 4D radar.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve also got pockets of \u201cextreme drought\u201d in the lighter red zones on the map. The fire danger is huge. Some of these fires aren\u2019t very well-contained, which is always worrying when you add wind to the mix.<\/p>\n
The rainfall deficit is now over 25 inches in Jacksonville itself, and between 15 and 20 inches from Brunswick to Waycross\u2014right where we\u2019re seeing the worst fire threats.<\/p>\n
Rainfall and high winds: limited relief<\/p>\n
I know some of us saw a downpour yesterday, but brief spurts of heavy rain just aren\u2019t enough to make up that kind of deficit. The sun came back out fast, so many areas dried right back up.<\/p>\n
Wind is a big problem. Gusts in the 15-25 mph range are expected to stick around through today, tomorrow, and likely into Wednesday as well. <\/p>\n
And with the ground still so dry, those kinds of wind speeds can really drive these fires, moving hot spots to new areas.<\/p>\n
Even if the ground feels a touch wet after a shower, it\u2019s just not enough to tamp down the danger for long.<\/p>\n
Air quality and safety tips<\/p>\n
The air quality right now is moderate, but thick smoke is out there, especially near active fires. Whether you have asthma, COPD, emphysema, or you just want to breathe a bit easier, the best advice is: Stay inside, close your windows, and bring the pets in.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re driving, it\u2019s always smart to use that \u201crecirculate air\u201d feature so nothing from outside gets in.<\/p>\n
My top priority is your safety, and we\u2019ve got you covered from every front on The Weather Authority.<\/p>\n
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