Preparing for wildfire season in the Jacksonville area

We are squarely in springtime now and past the worst of the pollen season, but we're nearing the peak of our wildfire season.

The Jacksonville area wildfire season is typically at it's worst in April and May.

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That's because we're coming out of winter, and now days are longer and temperatures are warmer.

On an average April and May day that's sunny and warm, as much as a quarter to a third of an inch of rain can evaporate per day - that's more than one-and-a-half inches per week.

The two months are also some of the driest months of the year, averaging a little either way of two-and-a-hald inches of rain for April and May.

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The Jacksonville-area "wet season" kicks in by June.

There are some things you can do to protect your propert before a wildfire breaks out.

• Make sure you have "defensible space" - that's at least 30 feet between shrubs, trees and any buildings on your property.
• Plant fire resistant vegetation thats NATIVE to our local area.

The best advice is to not do any open burning at anytime - which is unlawful in Duval County year-round.

By the end of April, the average high will be 80 degrees.

By mid-may, the average high will be 84 degrees, and by late may, it will be 88 degrees.

Our first 90 degree day of the season usually occurs during the first few weeks of May.

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Cox Media Group