Today: Partly sunny early, then becoming sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a northwest wind between 14 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. 


Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 28. North wind between 5 and 7 mph,


Hazardous Weather: A much colder air mass has settled over the region. Sub-freezing temperatures will occur tonight for areas away from the immediate coast and also west of the St. Johns River in northeast Florida. A Freeze Warning is in effect for these areas. Please refer to the freeze warning product for details (see below).

Strong northwest winds will combine with dry conditions to produce dangerous fire conditions today. Please refer to the Red Flag Warning for details (see below).

Forecast Details: .A cold front sweeping through the forecast area overnight is expected to pass most of area by sunrise. A few lingering showers over the southeast portion into middle morning is possible. Threat for severe storms is waning with atmosphere out of phase. The upper trough with its band of light rain is lagging behind the surface front. Laps analysis shows highest Theta-E and SBCAPE near Gilchrist and southwestern Alachua counties along the front.

A broken line of rain showers extends from near Brunswick to Gainesville at 2 am. Gusty winds are occurring along the frontal boundary shifting from SW 30-40 miles per hour to west-northwest 25-30 miles per hour behind the front. 

Temperatures will plunge after frontal passage and will likely continue falling or hold steady during the morning hours. Increasing sunshine will do little to help temperatures to rebound and highs in the middle 50s to near 60 are forecast. Breezy winds will be sustained at 15 to 20 miles per hour with gusts to 25 t0 30 miles per hour through the day. Will hold off issuing a lake wind advection at this time as conditions are borderline. 

Tonight models continue trending downwards as cold surface high builds in from the west and local confidence grids are supporting a 80-100% chance of sub-freezing temperatures over inland locations early Thursday morning with a 40-70% chance of sub-freezing temperatures along coastal southeast Georgia and along the U.S. 301 corridor in northeast Florida. Also of note is a 30-40% chance for a hard freeze with temperatures less than 27 degree west of I-75 from Live Oak to Archer. Freezing temperature chances along and east of the St Johns River basin remain at 30% or less and this area is not included in the watch. 

Today's Pollen Levels: 0.4 Low (on a scale to 12); Predominate Pollen:Ragweed 

... Freeze Warning In Effect From 1 Am To 8 Am Est Thursday... 

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a Freeze Warning which is in effect from 1 am to 8 am EST Thursday.

Strong cold air advection behind a cold front will bring below freezing temperatures to much of the interior sections of the forecast area. Minimum temperatures across inland southeast Georgia and Suwannee River valley of northeast Florida will bottom out in the upper 20s with 4 to 6 hours below freezing.

... Red Flag Warning Remains In Effect From 1 Pm To 5 Pm Est This Afternoon For Breezy Winds And Low Relative Humidity ... 

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from 1 PM to 5 PM EST this afternoon. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect Thursday afternoon.

Much colder and drier air will filter across the area this afternoon following a frontal passage. Breezy northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph combined with minimum relative humidity values in the 20to 25 % range will make for dangerous fire growth conditions and a Red Flag Warning has been issued.


For additional information visit the National Weather Service in Jacksonville website on the internet at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/