JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A cold front moving across the First Coast on Monday afternoon will set the stage for an extended spell of cold weather, with temperatures struggling to climb above 60 degrees for nearly a dozen days.
Monday afternoon highs are forecast to hover in the 50s through the middle of January, with only a brief respite Friday into Saturday morning, when temperatures may reach the low 60s. However, another cold front will bring rain and a return to cooler conditions Saturday afternoon, plunging highs back into the 50s.
If we don’t reach the 60s, then we will be in contention for the longest consecutive stretch of days below 60 since 2010 when Jacksonville set a record duration of twelve days.
Extra blankets for you and the plants
This January has already been notably chilly, with morning temperatures frequently dipping into the 30s. Only New Year’s Day and Monday morning managed to stay above 40 degrees.
Now overnight lows are set to drop further once more with freezes expected tonight and continuing for the next three nights.
The cold has taken a toll on tropical plants in the area, as Jacksonville has experienced six freezes so far this season. With more on the way, this winter could surpass last January’s three total freeze count.
Fading freezes
A long-term trend shows a gradual decline in the number of freezes in Jacksonville, averaging nine per year over the last decade. The record high of 44 freeze days was set in 2010.
Despite this recent cold snap, the First Coast’s overall climate has been warming. Warm years have outpaced cold years 46 to 41, and eight of the past 13 years have seen record-high average annual temperatures.
Relief from the chill isn’t expected until late January, when temperatures are forecast to recover into the milder 70s, offering a more sustained break from the cold.
Residents are encouraged to protect sensitive plants and keep extra blankets on hand as the region braces for this prolonged stretch of below-average temperatures.