Over 26 inches needed for relief<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 I\u2019m News4JAX meteorologist Katie Garner. I know a lot of folks are hoping for a drenching rain to pull us out of these dry conditions, but here\u2019s the real talk: for our drought to truly subside in Jacksonville, we need more than 26 inches of rain over the next three months.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a massive amount. I want you to imagine just how much rain that is. And it\u2019s not something we\u2019re expected to get from just one or two storms\u2014or even from several rainy days. This is a long-term deficit we\u2019re facing, and right now, we\u2019re still coming up way short.<\/p>\n
Lately, we\u2019ve started our mornings with some fog, but as the sun breaks through, we\u2019re seeing those classic blue skies\u2014that might look inviting, but doesn\u2019t help much when it comes to getting us out of a drought.<\/p>\n
Fire danger remains high right now<\/p>\n
Even though we\u2019ve seen a bit of moisture, it\u2019s just not enough to lower our fire risk. The fire weather danger is still very real across our area. I\u2019ve had a lot of questions: \u201cIt rained, can we burn now?\u201d The answer is no\u2014you absolutely cannot burn right now.<\/p>\n
Our wind is blowing steadily out of the northwest at about 13 miles per hour, and we\u2019re seeing gusts in the teens and sometimes even higher. That wind, paired with our dry stretches, can turn a small spark into a big problem very quickly.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re keeping a close watch for any visibility issues in the early mornings too, just to make sure you can get around safely.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville\u2019s 7-day weather outlook<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s talk temperatures: right now, we\u2019re sitting mostly between 82 and 84 degrees across the Jacksonville area, from Jacksonville itself down toward Palm Coast and over to Gainesville. Mayport is coming in just a bit cooler at 79 degrees.<\/p>\n
Our Exact Track 4D radar is crystal clear, and it\u2019s likely to stay that way through the weekend as high pressure dominates our weather. That means sunny skies and warm afternoons. If you\u2019re heading outdoors or to the beach, please remember the sunscreen!<\/p>\n
By Sunday, highs are expected to reach around 90 degrees. As our area of high pressure slides away, we could see a slight uptick in rain chances\u2014somewhere between 10 and 20 percent\u2014starting Sunday and carrying into midweek. It\u2019s not much, but I\u2019ll take any sign of hope for some help from Mother Nature.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s your quick look at the 7-day forecast:<\/p>\n
Thursday: 86 degrees, mostly sunny<\/p>\n
Friday: 85 degrees, mostly sunny<\/p>\n
Saturday: 89 degrees, clear<\/p>\n
Sunday: 90 degrees, mostly sunny, slim rain chance<\/p>\n
Monday\u2013Tuesday: Upper 80s, light rain chance<\/p>\n
Wednesday: 86 degrees, slightly higher chance of rain<\/p>\n
Share what you\u2019re seeing<\/p>\n