JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 It\u2019s all about chilly, dry mornings right now. Temperatures in Jacksonville are sitting at 51 degrees, with coastal areas in the 50s and Southeast Georgia dipping down into the 40s. I admit, I had to break out my puff coat this morning!<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s winds are on the light side\u2014steady speeds under 15 miles an hour\u2014but gusts could sneak into the teens or even hit 20 miles an hour at times. It\u2019s breezy enough that you\u2019ll feel it if you\u2019re outdoors, but not anything to worry about.<\/p>\n
Our highs are coming in cooler than average, with the Exact Track 4D showing just 68 degrees this afternoon, compared to a seasonal average of 78. Along the coast, look for 60s; inland spots will reach the low 70s.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re wondering about rain, our seven-day forecast stays mostly dry. There\u2019s just a small chance \u2014 about 20 percent \u2014 for showers as we move into Monday and Tuesday. For now, keep enjoying these crisp, mild days.<\/p>\n
Hurricane Melissa<\/p>\n
I\u2019m tracking Hurricane Melissa closely for you. This storm just won\u2019t go away. We\u2019ve watched Melissa cause extensive damage in the Bahamas, and it\u2019s now on track to move toward Bermuda with hurricane-force winds and heavy rain.<\/p>\n
Right now, Melissa is packing 105 mile an hour winds and is moving north-northeast at 21 miles an hour across the Atlantic. The Weather Authority\u2019s Exact Track 4D radar shows the storm steering away from the United States thanks to an upper-level trough that\u2019s moved in over the East Coast. That\u2019s keeping the worst conditions far from Florida.<\/p>\n
To be clear, there are no direct impacts expected for Florida. The most noticeable effect here will be some rip currents along our beaches. We\u2019re keeping an eye on the system as it heads out to open waters; it\u2019s expected to eventually become a non-tropical cyclone, but that won\u2019t happen just yet.<\/p>\n
Event outlook: Trick-or-treaters, football, and more<\/p>\n
Halloween is almost here, and I couldn\u2019t be more excited! I\u2019ve already got my candy ready. For Thursday night, you can expect a perfect evening for trick-or-treating: clear skies, light winds, and temperatures dropping from the low 60s to the mid-50s by 8 p.m. It\u2019s going to feel crisp, but it\u2019ll stay dry\u2014great weather for costumes (and double the candy, if you ask me).<\/p>\n
Friday football fans will love the weather: varsity games from 6 to 8 p.m. are looking beautiful, with temps holding in the 60s and no rain in sight.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to Saturday, the Florida vs. Georgia game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at EverBank Stadium with sunny skies and a forecast high of 71 degrees. If you\u2019re joining the Out of the Darkness Walk at Seawalk Pavilion, plan for a cool start in the 50s with clear conditions.<\/p>\n