Countdown to Spring with the First Alert Weather Team

The Action News Jax First Alert Weather team has compiled a list of what you need to know going into March and the start of Spring:

Pollen 

The peak of pollen season in the Jacksonville area lasts through March. Pine pollen, which is the yellow pollen you see on cars, started earlier than normal in the Jacksonville area -- being seen and felt in the middle of January! Oak pollen also started slightly early and is the pollen most people are sensative to, but with the early start of these two pollens, should come a slightly earlier end to the season as well.

Average last freezes

A freeze would help slow down the pollen bloom, but our average last freeze is the middle of February for Jacksonville and the beaches, but is later farther inland. Last year we had a widespread freeze in mid-March. The latest freeze on record is April 8, 2007. The last time Jacksonville’s latest seasonal freeze was before February was on Jan. 20th, 1997

Fog

With March and the start of Spring brings fog to the Jacksonville area -- especially sea fog. Ocean temperatures are still chilly well into spring, usually only in the 50s and 60s. During the day, when the land warms up, the large contrast between the ocean and land temperatures can help cause fog to form – first near the beaches, then that fog sometimes spreads inland. Only use low beam headlights when driving in the fog -- and slow down!.

Longer days

From February through March and into April, we will gain 150 minutes of daylight. Daylight saving time, when clocks "spring forward" one hour, is March 10.

The Players weather 

The PGA tour moved the Players tournament from April to March this year, which means the difference in weather will be a factor in the four day tournament. Fans and players will notice a difference in the average temperatures, which will range from lows in the 50's and highs in the 70's during March 14 through 17; and there will only be 12 hours of daylight as opposed to the 13 1/2 hours the tournament used to get when held in mid-May. One big difference the participants will notice - a golf ball will not travel as far in cold temperatures as opposed to warm temperature.

Vernal Equinox

March 20 is the first day of spring, which is whent he number of daylight equals the number of hours of night. This means that the sun's rays are moste perpendicular over the equator.

Cox Media Group