Thunderstorms, Heat, Rip Currents For North Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The National Weather Service Jacksonville is forecasting summer-like conditions across northeast Florida and southeast Georgia for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Humid air, warm temperatures, and daily afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected as sea breezes push inland and converge over interior areas.

According to NWS Jacksonville, summer-like conditions will dominate the holiday weekend with daily afternoon and evening thunderstorms, elevated heat indices, and a high risk of rip currents at local beaches.

Key hazards this weekend include:

• Daily afternoon/evening thunderstorms
• Locally heavy downpours and possible urban flooding
• Heat indices of 95°–105°F inland (highest between 12 PM – 6 PM)
• High risk of life-threatening rip currents at northeast Florida and southeast Georgia beaches

North Florida and southeast Georgia areas expecting daily thunderstorms and elevated heat this weekend include:

• Gainesville
• Ocala
• Lake City
• Starke
• Palatka
• Jacksonville (inland areas)
• Waycross
• Brunswick
• Homerville

Jacksonville Weather Forecast – Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday through Monday
Mostly sunny to partly cloudy each day with daily afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms, especially inland where sea breezes converge. Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s (heat index 95–105°F inland). Coastal areas will be slightly cooler in the mid to upper 80s. Southeast winds 5–10 mph with higher gusts possible near storms.

Weekend Nights
Partly to mostly cloudy with lows in the low to mid 70s. Lingering showers and storms possible early in the evening, then decreasing overnight.

The NWS Jacksonville forecasts that the main concerns this holiday weekend are the daily pop-up thunderstorms (with locally heavy rain), dangerously high heat indices inland, and a high risk of rip currents at the beaches due to elevated surf of 3–4 feet. Beachgoers are urged to stay out of the ocean and follow all patrol warnings.