Local forecasts, severe weather updates, and stories on how climate and seasonal patterns affect Jacksonville.
Featured image for “Tropical Storm Bertha forms in the Gulf; parts of Florida could feel effects”
Official track by the National Hurricane Center issued on Monday, July 20, at 8 pm EDT.
11 hours ago

Tropical Storm Bertha forms in the Gulf; parts of Florida could feel effects

Wind shear will limit Bertha’s intensification, but strong winds are expected in the northern Gulf Coast region.…

Featured image for “Strengthening El Niño could signal early end to Florida’s rainy season”
Drought conditions seen during the Railroad Fire in mid-2026 in Northeast Florida. | Florida Forest Service
July 9, 2026

Strengthening El Niño could signal early end to Florida’s rainy season

Several forecast models project below-average precipitation during the second half of summer.…

Featured image for “Forecasters scale back storm predictions for this hurricane season”
Hurricane Helene left significant damage in Madison County in September 2024. | Mike Exline, News Service of Florida file
July 8, 2026

Forecasters scale back storm predictions for this hurricane season

Colorado State University and AccuWeather both reduced the number of tropical storms and hurricanes they expect.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville under heat advisory as dangerous temperatures return”
Photo of Indian Riverside Park in Martin County. | Martin County
July 8, 2026

Jacksonville under heat advisory as dangerous temperatures return

The heat index in Northeast Florida could reach as high as 112 degrees, and heat advisories are possible all week.…

Featured image for “Saharan dust is floating toward Florida, which can be good and bad”
A map showing a blanket of Saharan dust over Florida.
July 7, 2026

Saharan dust is floating toward Florida, which can be good and bad

A plume of Saharan dust will arrive this week, causing storm chances to drop and temperatures to soar.…

Featured image for “Tropics likely to remain calm as hurricane season moves into July”
Satellite photo of Tropical Storm Elsa on July 7, 2021.
June 29, 2026

Tropics likely to remain calm as hurricane season moves into July

July typically produces about one to two named storms, with a hurricane once every three years.…

Featured image for “The hottest temperatures ever recorded in Florida aren’t as hot as it seems”
Photo of the Royal Palm Pointe Fountain in Vero Beach.
June 15, 2026

The hottest temperatures ever recorded in Florida aren’t as hot as it seems

Florida is known for its sunshine and heat, but the state’s hottest air temperature is actually lower than nearly every…

Featured image for “Colorado State predicts fewer storms in updated hurricane season forecast”
June 12, 2026

Colorado State predicts fewer storms in updated hurricane season forecast

Colorado State now predicts 13 named storms, including six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.…

Featured image for “Earthquake off Cuba shakes people across Northeast Florida”
A map shows the epicenter of the Cuban earthquake. | National Weather Service Miami, Facebook
June 8, 2026

Earthquake off Cuba shakes people across Northeast Florida

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck near western Cuba on Monday, shaking buildings in Havana and rattling people across the Sunshine State, from…

Featured image for “Burn ban ends in Clay County, but water restrictions continue across area”
Two fires burning near the Clay–Putnam County line merged into the massive Railroad Fire. | Jesse Hanson, News4Jax
June 1, 2026

Burn ban ends in Clay County, but water restrictions continue across area

Clay County imposed a burn ban in April because the drought had heightened the risk of forest and brush fires.…

Featured image for “Hurricane season begins, but hostile conditions bar tropical development”
Satellite picture of the Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean on June 1, 2026.
June 1, 2026

Hurricane season begins, but hostile conditions bar tropical development

During an average year, the Atlantic Basin sees 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.…

Featured image for “Emerging El Niño could boost temperatures and rainfall this summer”
The coastline in Daytona Beach.
May 27, 2026

Emerging El Niño could boost temperatures and rainfall this summer

Forecasters believe a strengthening El Niño pattern is likely to emerge in 2026 and continue into winter.…

Featured image for “Piles of sargassum wash ashore and foul the air at Jacksonville Beach”
Sargassum piles are spread across Jacksonville Beach. | News4Jax
May 26, 2026

Piles of sargassum wash ashore and foul the air at Jacksonville Beach

Sargassum has long been common on Florida’s East Coast, but it has grown in abundance in recent years.…

Featured image for “NOAA hurricane outlook predicts below-normal tropical activity”
May 21, 2026

NOAA hurricane outlook predicts below-normal tropical activity

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says an El Niño is likely to suppress hurricane activity.…

Featured image for “UNF lab will test the effects of extreme heat on athletes, military and workers”
Treadmills in the new Perry Weather Heat Lab, part of the Korey Stringer Institute. | University of North FloridaInstitute’s new UNF satellite location include these treadmills. | UNF
May 18, 2026

UNF lab will test the effects of extreme heat on athletes, military and workers

The new Perry Weather Heat Lab at UNF will test extreme weather health effects on people.…

Featured image for “Water restrictions get even tighter as drought persists in Northeast Florida”
A person sets the lawn sprinkler to the proper setting. |
May 18, 2026

Water restrictions get even tighter as drought persists in Northeast Florida

The region is now subject to Phase III water restrictions, which further limits lawn watering.…

Featured image for “National Hurricane Center releases first tropical outlook of 2026 season”
Atlantic basin satellite image.
May 15, 2026

National Hurricane Center releases first tropical outlook of 2026 season

Early forecasts suggest tropical activity may trend below normal compared with more active seasons.…

Featured image for “Drought continues to affect water quality and river levels across Florida”
May 8, 2026

Drought continues to affect water quality and river levels across Florida

Despite the lower water levels, the drought has not affected water for drinking or firefighting.…

Featured image for “2026 Atlantic hurricane season: Forecast changes, predictions and more”
Photo of a hurricane taken from a satellite.
May 4, 2026

2026 Atlantic hurricane season: Forecast changes, predictions and more

The first named cyclone in the Atlantic basin typically forms around June 20, with the first hurricane by Aug. 11.…

Featured image for “Record heat is on the way to Florida; then much-needed rain will follow”
April 30, 2026

Record heat is on the way to Florida; then much-needed rain will follow

A cold front will enter the Panhandle on Saturday and bring showers across North Florida.…

Featured image for “Georgia fire grows; Glynn County homes evacuated”
A photo provided by the Office of Gov. Brian Kemp shows smoke produced from a wildfire in Brantley County, Georgia, on Friday, April 24, 2026. | Office of Gov. Brian Kemp via AP
April 27, 2026

Georgia fire grows; Glynn County homes evacuated

The Highway 82 fire remains 6% contained a week after it began. The fire has destroyed at least 87 homes.…

Featured image for “How much rainfall is needed to end Florida’s drought?”
Wildfires burned Clay and Putnam counties. | Florida Forest Service
April 27, 2026

How much rainfall is needed to end Florida’s drought?

Even a hurricane might not bring enough rain to end the drought in Jacksonville and other parts of North Florida.…

Featured image for “Clay-Putnam wildfire now 65% contained”
Two fires burning near the Clay–Putnam County line merged into the massive Railroad Fire. | Jesse Hanson, News4Jax
April 24, 2026

Clay-Putnam wildfire now 65% contained

The so-called Railroad wildfire spans 4,413 acres, but evacuated families have been allowed to return home.…

Featured image for “87 homes lost in Southeast Georgia wildfires”
Georgia Department of Corrections inmate fire teams are assisting with the Brantley County fires. | Georgia Department of Corrections
April 24, 2026

87 homes lost in Southeast Georgia wildfires

The wildfire destroyed dozens of homes within hours of erupting Tuesday. It remains only 15% contained.…