jacksonville weather is swinging fast from back-to-back record highs to a wetter pattern, with widespread rain and thunderstorms expected Thursday afternoon and evening. Richard Nunn, Chief Meteorologist at WJXT, said Jacksonville hit another record high at JAX with temperatures reaching 92 degrees, breaking the previous record of 89 set in 1967. The shift matters now because the region remains under Extreme Drought and a Phase II Severe Water Shortage, even as “beneficial rain” arrives.
Jacksonville Weather timeline: storms Thursday, cooler air follows
At 10: 00 AM ET, Nunn’s forecast emphasized a summer-like feel despite being nine days from the start of spring, with the heat poised to ease after Friday’s rainfall. The most immediate change comes Thursday: cloudy skies with rain chances becoming widespread through the afternoon and evening, bringing rain and thunderstorms described as beneficial for the area.
For Thursday, morning lows are expected in the 60s with afternoon highs in the 70s to 80s. Rain chances are projected at 90–100 percent, with southwest winds around 10–15 mph and stronger gusts possible. Scattered showers could linger through late evening.
Friday is expected to turn breezy and cooler, closer to seasonal temperatures, with a slight chance of showers (10–20 percent). Low temperatures are forecast in the 40s and 50s for southeast Georgia and in the 50s for northeast Florida. Highs should range from the 70s to low 80s inland, with 60s along the beaches, under northeast winds of 10–20 mph.
Record heat, then “beneficial rain” with lingering showers into Monday
Jacksonville’s record heat has been notable: Nunn said the city recorded back-to-back record highs, capped by the 92-degree reading at JAX that surpassed the 1967 record. The forecast calls for that heat to give way as rain arrives and temperatures drop to near seasonal averages following the rain on Friday.
Rain chances then build again into the weekend. Nunn said an increasing onshore wind on Friday and Saturday will keep coastal counties under a slight chance of a passing shower. By Sunday afternoon, rain chances increase as scattered showers and thunderstorms develop to the south and push north across the area through early evening. Scattered showers and areas of light rain are expected to continue through early Monday, with cooler temperatures returning Tuesday.
Rainfall models are averaging around 0. 50 to 1. 5 inches over the next seven days, with some areas potentially seeing more if slow-moving thunderstorms develop.
Drought rules still apply even as rainfall totals rise
Even with improving rain chances, the area remains under Extreme Drought and a Phase II Severe Water Shortage, Nunn said. He stressed that landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week and that residents should not water between 10: 00 AM ET and 4: 00 PM ET.
As the pattern turns more active, Nunn noted that rain chances increase through Thursday with showers lingering into Friday morning, while the weekend brings a mix of warmer temperatures and increasing rain potential—especially Sunday.
What’s next
In the near term, the focus is on Thursday’s widespread rain and thunderstorms, then Friday’s cooler, breezier conditions. Through the weekend into early Monday, the forecast keeps intermittent showers in play, with the highest renewed storm chance arriving Sunday afternoon as activity pushes north. jacksonville weather will be watched closely for how much rainfall actually falls, particularly as drought conditions and watering limits remain in effect heading into the next week.
