813
FXUS62 KJAX 191834
AFDJAX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
234 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.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

- High Risk for Rip Currents Today and Friday Northeast Florida
  Beaches. Moderate Risk Rip Currents Southeast Georgia Beaches

- Small Craft Advisories Today through Friday morning

- Extreme to Exceptional Drought Conditions Continue across the
  area. Elevated Fire Danger Conditions this Afternoon

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Main Highlights through Tonight:

- Breezy Coastal Conditions this afternoon; Gusts up to 30 mph
- Elevated Fire Danger this afternoon for the I-95 corridor

A dry backdoor cold front has pushed its way south of the area, with
gusty coastal northeasterly winds in it`s wake. A few showers are lingering
well offshore while dry air is mixing humidity down into the upper
20s and lower 30 percent range over inland areas, elevating the fire
danger this afternoon as winds gust in the 25-30 mph range along the
I-95 corridor. While fire danger is elevated, humidity is
anticipated to remain above critical Red Flag levels (more discussed
in the fire weather section below).

Tonight, gradients and winds will relax inland overnight as high
pressure begins to wedge down the eastern seaboard and settle into
the region by daybreak Friday. Little concern for any significant
fog tonight given the very dry airmass in the boundary layer, but
shallow "ground" fog could develop under the clear skies. The
northeasterly flow will prop up tonight`s low temps with upper 30s
and lower 40s inland and mid to upper 40s at coastal locations.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Main Highlights This Period:

-Moderating temps daily through the end of the week
-Patchy Fog possible Friday Night

Temperatures will gradually warm into the weekend as dry conditions
persist due to high pressure sitting over the SE CONUS. Light
northeasterly flow on Friday will bring cooler air towards the
coast, keeping daytime highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s for
coastal locations, while inland locations will range in the mid to
upper 70s. Near calm winds and clearing skies will bring the
potential for patchy fog to develop over inland locations during the
late evening to early morning. Lows will be in the 40s.

A shift to a more westerly to southwesterly flow on Saturday with
high pressure over the Gulf. A rise in temperatures continues,
bringing daytime highs to rise into the 80s for most locations, with
coastal locations a bit cooler with highs in the upper 70s. High
pressure begins to push towards the south Saturday Night. Lows will
be in the 50s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Main Highlights This Period:

- Very warm early in the period before a likely cool down late
  in the period
- Next chances for rain with a frontal boundary Monday Night & Tuesday,
  possibly lingering into Wednesday

High pressure slides just south of the area Sunday before continuing
east into the Atlantic. A frontal boundary drops southward towards
the area on Monday as the high pressure moves out. Guidance has been
trending towards a more progressive frontal passage around Monday
Night and Tuesday, though there is still some questions as to where
the front will stall over the Florida peninsula towards mid week, if
at all. An increase in wind speeds ahead/behind the front will
lead to a period of elevated seas for our marine zones.

With temps well above normal ahead of the boundary, expecting at
least some convection Monday Night and into Tuesday, which could
linger into Wednesday across northeast FL if the boundary stalls
over the central FL peninsula. More details to be ironed out over
the coming days.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Breezy conditions at coastal terminals and are expected through the
early evening before falling below 10 knots. VFR conditions prevail
and skies will be clear overnight with little potential for any
significant visibility restrictions due to fog. Northeast winds will
prevail Friday with speeds around 8-12 knots with gusts up to 18
knots at the coast.

&&

.MARINE...

High pressure north of the region will wedge down the southeastern
seaboard Today with Small Craft Advisory conditions over the
Southeast Georgia waters through this evening and Northeast Florida
waters through Friday morning. Winds and seas are expected to
diminish by late Friday as high pressure center reforms to the west
of the waters before settling over the local waters Friday night
into Saturday. The high will sink south of the waters on Sunday into
Monday with southwest to westerly winds ahead of a cold front moving
into the waters next Tuesday with increasing northeasterly winds and
seas.

Rip Currents: Gusty northeast winds and elevated breakers are
creating a High Risk of Rip Currents today for NE FL beaches, while
the SE GA beaches will remain at a Moderate Risk with breakers in
the 2-4 ft range. High Risk continues for NE FL beaches into Friday
with surf/breakers of 3-5 ft and continue northeasterly breeze, with
surf/breakers of 2-3 ft and Moderate Risk for SE GA beaches.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

- Areas Of Critically Low Min Rh Inland Through Friday
- Areas Of High Dispersions Through The Weekend

Cool and dry high pressure will remain in place through at least the
end of the week, allowing for low to critically low daytime RH
values through Friday. Dispersions will be good for most locations
on Friday, with interior SE GA seeing Poor to Fair values as the
high pressure repositions. Rising mixing heights this weekend will
bring high dispersions for most locations. Flow will remain out of
the northeast through Friday as well, becoming more out of the west
through this weekend and eventually southwest by Monday ahead of the
next approaching front. This next front will bring chances for
showers and thunderstorms once again Monday Night and Tuesday,
possibly lingering into Wednesday over portions of northeast FL.

FOG POTENTIAL AND OTHER REMARKS: Significant fog potential is not
expected the next couple of days.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG  41  75  48  83 /   0   0   0   0
SSI  49  68  52  77 /   0   0   0   0
JAX  44  74  47  85 /   0   0   0   0
SGJ  52  69  49  80 /   0   0   0   0
GNV  42  77  45  83 /   0   0   0   0
OCF  44  77  46  82 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Risk for Rip Currents through Friday evening for FLZ124-125-
     138-233-333.
GA...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM EDT this afternoon for AMZ450.
     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Friday for AMZ452-454-472-
     474.
     Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for AMZ470.

&&

$$