
By Mark Collins First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL --The freeze is over, let the warm up begin. By 10a.m. most of the area was above 32 degrees, and the weekend only gets better from here. The low this morning was 29 at the National weather service. Parts of southeast Georgia dipped to the low 20s, while the beaches stayed in the 40s.
Today the warm up begins. Mid and upper 50s today will lead to 60s and 70s for the rest of the weekend. We have a few very light showers off shore, but nothing frosty with this.
Thursday near Ormond Beach, A couple of flurries were reported by the National Weather Service out of Melbourne. There was not enough for accumulation. There were freezes down to Ft. Meyers with temps dropping into the 30s in Miami and West Palm Beach. We are baring the brunt of the cold snap this morning. Look for highs in the upper 40s. Tonight a Freeze Watch goes in effect. Another freeze with frost, and highs in the 50s Friday.
Wednesday, it was a cold start for eveyone. Homerville and Lake City were the first to freeze just after 5a.m. Waycross and Macclenny fell to 32 just before 7 this morning. The northside hit freezing just before 7:30. This is the light freeze, just the early stages. Much of the area stayed in the mid and upper 30s.
Despite cloudless skies today, the highs will only reach the mid 40s during the day. Combine the northwest winds blowing 20-25 with gusts to 35, and it will feels like readings in the 30s. There is a 15 to 20% chance of an isolated snow flurry near Flagler Beach or Southern St. Johns county. This would be between 4 and 11 Thursday morning if everything falls into place.
Plants should be covered and kept covered through Friday morning. Wednesday night and Thursday morning will be colder. You can read more about citrus protection in our First Coast News Weather Blog.
Temps will freeze for ten to 14 hours west of Highway 301 Thursday morning and for four to eight hours around the river and beach. This is the type of damaging cold that can freeze exposed pipes.
Another light freeze will take over Friday morning before a mild warm up into the weekend with highs in the 70s.
Record lows could be challenged Thursday morning. The record is 19 set in 1979.
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Created: 1/1/2008 6:57:10 PM 


