Soaking rain pattern on the way<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Hey friends, Meteorologist Katie Garner here from The Weather Authority. Let\u2019s talk about this change we\u2019re expecting as we head into the back half of the week.<\/p>\n
The big headline? I\u2019m tracking a major rain pattern that really ramps up starting Thursday and sticks around through next Tuesday. You\u2019ll notice more pop-up showers and storms cropping up in the afternoon hours, especially as we hit peak heat. Some of these storms may bring wind gusts and lightning, and they\u2019ll help chip away at our drought. With 2 to 5 inches of rain expected across the area, it\u2019s a much-needed drink for our yards\u2014but could also mean slick roads and some localized flooding, especially if you catch one of those heavier downpours.<\/p>\n
Heat index and fire risk still high<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not ignore the heat! Today\u2019s temps are already running hot, with Jacksonville near 90 at midday and spots like Julington Creek Marina feeling like 95 degrees by this afternoon. Humidity\u2019s hanging right around 59 percent, with winds out of the south-southwest at about 11.<\/p>\n
High fire danger continues for now thanks to dry ground and gusts\u201422 mile an hour gusts in Jacksonville, with steady teens along our coastal areas. If you\u2019re headed outside, please be extra careful with anything that could spark.<\/p>\n
Even with the rain coming, we\u2019re running above average for highs through Friday. That means it\u2019ll feel sticky, steamy, and at times uncomfortable until the big rain arrives and knocks temps a little below normal the first part of this weekend.<\/p>\n
Making plans? Here\u2019s what to know<\/p>\n
I know this rain is a bit of a party crasher\u2014just ask my friend Mel, who\u2019s got a big get-together planned! If you\u2019re like her and hoping for sun, I recommend a plan B for the next few days. You\u2019ll see passing showers and storms each day, lingering around 10 to 20 minutes at a time, with breaks in between. Not a full washout, but enough to be annoying if you\u2019re not prepared.<\/p>\n
Pack the poncho and those waterproof shoes, especially if you\u2019re out and about Friday evening or over the weekend. We haven\u2019t seen specific flood alerts pop up, but with totals building up to 5 inches in our area, localized flooding is something I\u2019ll be watching for on Exact Track 4D radar.<\/p>\n
Hour-by-hour, the afternoons will be hottest and stormiest, cooling just slightly in the evening. Weekend highs will drop into the mid-80s with all this rain\u2014but plan to dodge those downpours.<\/p>\n