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 this Morning Southeast GA, Inland Portions of Northeast and North Central FL. Wind Chill Values 20s this morning.

- Small Craft Advisory through Saturday for most local waters. Gale Watch Tonight for outer waters.

- Elevated Fire Danger Today due to Gusty Westerly Winds - Severe to Extreme Drought Expands Locally with Local Wildfire Activity

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

NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Temperatures were on track for a light inland freeze early this morning with wind chills falling into the 25-30 deg range around sunrise, still just above Cold Weather Advisory conditions for much of northeast FL.

Today, sunny skies prevail under increasingly gusty westerly winds through the day as the pressure gradient strengthens ahead of an approaching 'dry' cold front. High temperatures will be warmer compared to yesterday, topping out in the low to mid 60s, which is closer to but still just shy of average daily highs. Gusty westerly winds of 20-30 mph will increase into the afternoon, which could be a concern for local wildfires.

Tonight, the dry cold front moves across the area with winds under mostly clear skies less some passing low level clouds. Low temperatures will fall into the mid/upper 30s across parts of inland southeast GA to the lower 40s toward the coast and much of northeast FL trailing the front. With the surface high behind the cold front well north of the area, winds will remain elevated overnight, creating wind chills in the lower 30s for parts of southeast GA by daybreak Saturday morning to the upper 30s for northeast FL.

SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

Cold and dry conditions with predominantly clear skies will continue through the weekend as the cold air mass settles in over the region on Saturday with winds building from out of the northwest in the afternoon. High pressure over the area will begin to build to the northeast on Sunday with high pressure over the gulf gradually working its way eastward towards Florida, resulting in a less northerly and more westerly prevailing flow before next week. High temperatures for the weekend will range between the upper 50s and lower 60s for southeast Georgia and in the lower to upper 60 for northeast Florida. Overnight low temperatures will rise slightly over the weekend with min temps in upper 20s and lower 30s on Saturday lifting to be in the mid to upper 30s for inland areas by the end of the weekend. Potential for freezing and frost Saturday night and into early Sunday morning.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Dry weather conditions will persist through midweek as high pressure over the gulf moves eastward over the Florida peninsula and high pressure ridging extends over the forecast area. Chances for precipitation will increase on Thursday as high pressure moves further off into the Atlantic and a warm front associated with southwesterly flow will extend northward. Temperatures will warm by the beginning of next week with max and min temps rising to be near and above the seasonal average through midweek.

AVIATION /06Z FRIDAY THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

MVFR ceilings will continue to erode at SGJ over the next hour, then prevailing VFR conditions are expected across all terminals through the forecast period. WNW winds 4-10 kts will continue overnight, stronger speeds toward the coast. After 14z, gusty westerly winds develop ahead of an approaching dry cold front. Winds further increase after 18z with sustained speeds 13-16 kts and gusts around 25 kts through 00z. Winds subside 00-06z but remain elevated 10-12 kts with gusts 20-25 kts at the front moves across the terminals. Some increase in low clouds as the front passes across the terminals, but VFR expected to prevail.

MARINE

Gusty offshore winds will bring prevailing Small Craft Advisory conditions across the local waters through Saturday as a dry cold front approaches today and moves across the waters tonight. A period of frequent gusts to Gale Force is possible Friday night into early Saturday morning over the outer waters, and a Gale Watch is now in effect. Winds and seas begin to subside late Saturday into Sunday as high pressure builds north of the region. The high builds over the local waters late Sunday into Monday, then to the south Tuesday into Wednesday.

Rip Currents: Low to Moderate Risk in the strong offshore flow with surf/breakers only in the 1-3 ft today and Saturday.

FIRE WEATHER

- High Daytime Dispersions Today And Again On Saturday - Minrh Values In The 30S Today - Minrh Values In 20S And 30S Saturday And Sunday - Elevated Fire Weather Conditions Today

Dry weather will remain in place as a secondary dry cold front approaches today and then moves across the local area tonight. Breezy westerly winds develop today ahead of the front, resulting in an elevated risk for fire danger today. High pressure conditions will build through the weekend with humidity levels gradually rising with the coming week as the prevailing flow shifts to become more out of the Gulf.

FOG POTENTIAL AND OTHER REMARKS: Early morning patchy frost early this morning with inland frost and freeze expected Saturday night. Significant fog developments are not expected.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

AMG 62 38 57 29 / 0 0 0 0 SSI 60 44 58 39 / 0 0 0 0 JAX 64 42 62 35 / 0 0 0 0 SGJ 62 46 61 41 / 0 0 0 0 GNV 64 42 65 34 / 0 0 0 0 OCF 62 43 66 34 / 0 0 0 0

JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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