JACKSONVILLE, Fla — THIS WEEKEND: "Hot and humid" remains the theme, but we're adding in shower and storm chances through the weekend. An unsettled pattern is taking hold with a front to our west and tropical moisture surging in from the south. Temperatures soar into the lower 90s once again Friday afternoon, but they will taper off to seasonable levels in the middle and upper 80s by Saturday and Sunday. That, of course, comes at the expense of rain and clouds.
Friday's storms will begin to move into areas south of Jacksonville by 4 p.m. with storms popping up across Duval between 5 and 6 p.m. Activity will build from the St. Johns River to the coast through 7:30 p.m., but then gradually inch west after sunset. Storms will linger inland possibly through midnight before settling down.
Skies will start off on the cloudier side Saturday, but we'll still see some pockets of morning sun. Get in your outdoor activities early on because storms will build through the day. Isolated pop-ups may start to rumble after 11 a.m. and head northeast through the early afternoon. After 4 p.m., the storms will become heavier and more widespread stretching to the Beaches through sunset.
Sunday is more of an on/off day with drier conditions overall. Expect steamy sunshine mixed with clouds and an afternoon downpour popping up.
Keep that First Coast News app handy with weather notifications turned on and location enabled to receive any warnings that may come in from time to time. A few of these storms may briefly become severe with gusty winds, or will just be dangerous containing a lot of lightning. If you have outdoor plans, have a Plan B and a spot to take cover if/when necessary.
TROPICS: The National Hurricane Center has resumed its Tropical Outlook Discussions on May 15th. The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st.
1. As of now, there are no threats to the First Coast within the next 5 days.
2. Our focus, for now, is over Central America and deep across the southern Caribbean. This is a "hot spot" at the beginning of the hurricane season. The good news is our confidence has increased that there will not be any tropical cyclone formation for the next 7 days.
RIP CURRENTS: It's always a good idea to talk to the lifeguards and only go out where they can see you. The risk of rip currents always exists, especially around jetties and piers. Have fun, yet play it safe.