April and May are typically some of Florida’s wettest spring months, helping to ease dry conditions before summer arrives. This year, however, the rain never really showed up. Instead, much of the state spent the past two months battling severe drought conditions, growing wildfire concerns, and an unusually active fire season.
While Jacksonville has picked up a few rounds of much-needed rain recently, it’s going to take a lot more to erase the drought. Much of the region remains locked in severe drought conditions, with the worst impacts stretching across inland southeast Georgia and parts of inland northeast Florida. Exceptional drought (D4) continues in those areas, while Extreme (D3) and pockets of Severe (D2) drought still linger along the coast and throughout the St. Johns River Basin.
There may finally be some relief on the horizon. As June gets underway, a wetter weather pattern is beginning to take shape, bringing increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms across northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. While the rain will be welcome, some storms could also produce heavy downpours, gusty winds, and frequent lightning.
Here’s a look at the forecast, how much rain is expected, what you can expect through tomorrow and the rest of the week.
What’s the weather like June 2? When will it rain today?
Hot and breezy conditions continue Tuesday, June 2 with highs near 92, with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon, mainly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and while not everyone will see rain, any storm that develops could bring brief heavy downpours. Northeast winds will blow at 11 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph.
Additionally, a few showers and thunderstorms may stick around into the late evening hours, mainly between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Otherwise, expect mostly cloudy skies and a mild overnight low near 70. Breezy northeast winds of 16 to 18 mph will continue through the night.
Hazards: Thunderstorms and localized flooding across Jacksonville area
Rainfall is desperately needed, and Tuesday’s storms could deliver beneficial precipitation, particularly across northeast and north-central Florida. However, the return of thunderstorms also brings hazards. Due to the prolonged drought, lightning strikes could spark new wildfires, while repeated rounds of heavy rainfall may lead to localized flooding in urban areas and other low-lying, flood-prone locations.
When will it rain today, June 2? How much rain will Jacksonville get?
The National Weather Service expects most areas to receive between 0.75 and 1.5 inches of rain, with isolated locations picking up as much as 3 inches. While the rainfall will be welcome, forecasters warn that the heaviest downpours could lead to localized flooding, especially in urban and low-lying areas.
Here’s what to expect:
According to the National Weather Service, residents should stay weather-aware throughout the day and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Wednesday, June 3 forecast for Jacksonville, Florida
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
What’s the weather like this week in Jacksonville, FL?
NWS Jacksonville radar
Weather alerts issued in Florida
Map: Wildfire risks in Florida
Map: Current drought conditions in Florida
Map: See current burn bans in Florida
Can’t see the map? Open in a new browser.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
What’s next?
We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site’s app to ensure you’re always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Heavy rainfall ahead for Jacksonville. How much will it rain and when?
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
