Our hot/humid weather -- typical of July but a few degrees above avg. -- will continue this week. Highs will be in the 90s with heat indices 100-105, lows in the 70s. Scattered afternoon storms will develop each day as the sea breeze penetrates inland. Coverage could be greater Thu.-Fri. So the 4th of July will be partly sunny with a few inland afternoon storms with temps. topping out in the low to mid 90s.
June is in the books & was a crazy month to say the least. Temps. were 2 degrees below avg with a record low of 59 on the 18th & 63 on the 28th. But, of course, rain was the story as afternoon storms produced heavy rainfall the first weeks of the month then the deluge from "Debby" dumped record rainfall within the last week of the month. Daily rainfall records were set on the 25th & 26th. The 7.36" on the 25th was not only a record for the day but a June record. Never before has more rain fallen within a single day in June at JIA. The old record was 6.07" June 13th, 2004. The monthly rainfall of 16.58" was a full 10.13 above avg.! Additional rainfall reports for June are below from our Jax N.W.S.:
JACKSONVILLE VICINITY... NORTHEAST FLORIDA...
JACKSONVILLE BEACH..... 26.60 LIVE OAK ............ 14.26
JACKSONVILLE NAS....... 23.39 GAINESVILLE ......... 16.34
FORT CAROLINE.......... 20.31 LAKE CITY 2E......... 17.40
FEDERAL POINT........ 8.15
ST. AUGUSTINE LITEHS. 7.65
HIGHLANDS.............. 17.85
CRAIG FIELD............ 28.19 HASTINGS 4NE......... 7.65
MAYPORT NS............. 18.82 HIGH SPRINGS......... 8.60
SOUTH PONTE VEDRA...... 21.49 JASPER............... 15.97
GUANA RIVER ST PARK.... 22.98 BELL 4NW............. 11.23
BEAUCLERC.............. 23.87 JUNIPER SPRINGS...... 13.23
WHITEHOUSE............. 22.84 PALM COAST NE....... 12.73
OCALA................ 13.80
STARKE............... 27.27
ORANGE SPRINGS....... 15.11
CRESCENT CITY........ 13.37
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
BRUNSWICK.............. 5.28 ST SIMONS ISLAND..... 11.40
HOMERVILLE 5N.......... 3.68 ALMA................. 4.56
PRIDGEN................ 0.65 BAXLEY 5NNW.......... 0.85
WOODBINE............... 10.18 HAZLEHURST........... 0.50
FARGO 17NE............. 12.70 PATTERSON............ 3.13
WAYCROSS 4NE........... 4.09 MANOR................ 4.71
Check out the avg. July weather at JIA:
The Jax N.W.S. has issued a detailed "Debby" summary - click here.
Earth Gauge: Fireworks
In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for two out of five of those fires. In 2010, fireworks ignited an estimated 15,500 fires, many of which were outdoor grass and brush fires. These fires can spread quickly, especially in areas that are experiencing dry weather or drought.
Viewer Tip: The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to visit a public display that is organized by professionals. If you are thinking about using fireworks, keep these tips in mind to prevent fires and enjoy a safe holiday:
· Check local laws and observe fireworks bans. Laws about fireworks use vary from state to state. With many parts of the United States experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions – and some battling wildfires – certain communities are implementing complete bans on fireworks, including public displays. Always follow rules and instructions issued by your local officials.
· Light up safely. Keep fireworks out of the hands of young children. Never light fireworks near your home, dry leaves or grass, or other flammable materials.
· Douse them out. Always keep a bucket of water around to douse the fireworks when you are done. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, too.
Did you know? A sparkler burns at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. For comparison, water boils at 212 degrees, wood burns at 575 degrees and glass melts at 900 degrees!
