textproduct: Jacksonville

KEY MESSAGES

For the latest NE FL and SE GA Daily Key Messages please visit: https:/www.weather.gov/media/jax/briefings/nws-jax-briefing.pdf

- Freeze Warning Late Tonight & Early Friday Morning. Areas Impacted: Southeast GA, Inland Portions of Northeast and North Central FL. Wind Chill Values in the Low to Mid 20s Early on Friday Morning

- Near Critical Fire Weather Conditions Friday Afternoon across coastal Northeast FL

- Small Craft Advisory Conditions through Friday Morning inner and

- Light Freeze & Frost Late Sat Night for Inland Areas West of I-95

- Severe to Extreme Drought Continues to Expand Across Our Area

NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Cold northwesterly flow behind this morning's frontal passage will lead to a widespread "light" freeze tonight with even the coastal zones in NE FL dipping back down into the mid 30s. The inherited freeze warning was unchanged, highlight inland zones of NE FL from the St Johns River west and all of SE GA. Combine the sub-freezing and near-freezing temps with the lingering northwesterly breeze, Wind Chill values will be in the 25-28 degree range. There could be some localized areas that reach Cold Weather Advisory levels (for NE FL) but it appears that most areas will not reach that degree of coldness tonight. Otherwise, the overcast skies will gradually scatter out from southwest to northeast/east tonight, leaving clear skies by sunrise Friday.

SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

The region will be between high pressure to the southwest, and a trough to the north Friday. A weak front will pass southeast across the area Friday night. Colder air will advect southeast into region Saturday afternoon and night behind the front.

This will be a dry period. Temperatures will remain below seasonal averages this period.

The main hazards this period will be the potential for an inland freeze/frost Saturday night, and continued fire weather concerns due to dry conditions.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

High pressure ridge will build to the north Sunday, then toward the east early next week. Ridging will extend across the area from this high through the remainder of next week. A warm front will extend just north of forecast area Thursday, which may lead to a few showers over inland SE GA.

Except for the low chance for showers Thursday, this will be a dry period. Temperatures will start Sunday below average, with above average readings then expected through the end of the week.

The main hazards this period will be potential for inland Frost Sunday night, along with continued fire weather concerns due to dry conditions.

AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Ceilings will gradually improve through the rest of the afternoon and scatter out at inland terminals between 20z-00z first then a gradual clearing at the coast this evening. Breezy northwesterly winds around 10-15 kts will continue with occasional gusts to 20 knots. At terminals that do scatter out cloud cover, gusts will be more frequent late this afternoon. For Friday, SKC conditions and westerly breezes around 10-15 kts with gusts up to 25 kts possible after 15z.

MARINE

Gusty northwesterly winds behind the front will lead to a period of Small Craft Advisory conditions Today and Tonight. After a brief lull in the winds Friday morning, another cold front will clip the waters resulting in another uptick in winds to Small Craft Advisory levels through Saturday morning with potential for occasional gusts to Gale force possible, especially offshore. High pressure building to the north behind the front will shift winds to onshore, out of the northeast, and lower speeds by this weekend.

Rip Currents: Low to Moderate Risk in the strong offshore flow with surf/breakers only in the 1-2 ft range Today and Friday.

FIRE WEATHER

- Elevated Fire Weather conditions for coastal NE FL Friday and Saturday, due to the combination of low RH and gusty winds

- Widespread High Dispersions Friday

A cold front will move north past the region Friday into Friday night. The front will pass through dry, and will result in elevated winds. High pressure will build over the weekend. The high will move toward the east early in the week.

FOG POTENTIAL AND OTHER REMARKS: Significant fog is not expected Tonight. An inland frost and freeze is expected Saturday night. A few showers will be possible Thursday.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

AMG 47 29 62 38 / 0 0 0 0 SSI 49 35 60 44 / 10 0 0 0 JAX 53 32 64 42 / 10 0 0 0 SGJ 56 35 62 46 / 40 0 0 0 GNV 57 31 64 42 / 20 0 0 0 OCF 57 30 62 43 / 30 0 0 0

JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

FL...Freeze Warning from 3 AM to 9 AM EST Friday for FLZ021-023-024- 030-031-035-120-136-137-140-220-232-236-237-240-322-340- 422-425-522. GA...Freeze Warning from 3 AM to 9 AM EST Friday for GAZ132>136-149- 151>154-162-163-165-166-250-264-350-364. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM Friday to 3 PM EST Saturday for AMZ450-452-454. Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM EST Friday for AMZ452-454. Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM EST Saturday for AMZ470-472- 474.