Jacksonville, Florida – A sharp blast of Arctic air is expected to bring some of the coldest temperatures of the winter to northeast Florida and southeast Georgia late Thursday into early Friday, raising concerns for crops, pipes, pets, and vulnerable residents.
According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, a Freeze Watch is in effect from Thursday evening through Friday morning for much of north and northeast Florida as well as southeast Georgia. Overnight lows could fall as low as 21 degrees, with several inland locations expected to remain below freezing for multiple hours.
In Florida, the watch includes Jacksonville, Orange Park, Gainesville, Palatka, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Live Oak, Lake City, Ocala, Fernandina Beach, and surrounding inland and coastal communities. Inland areas away from the immediate coast are most likely to see the coldest temperatures, though even coastal zones could experience frost.
Across southeast Georgia, communities such as Waycross, Baxley, Jesup, Douglas, Folkston, Kingsland, and Brunswick are also included. Agricultural interests, especially winter crops and sensitive vegetation, face a heightened risk of damage.
Residents are urged to protect tender plants, bring pets indoors, and check on elderly neighbors and those without adequate heat. Outdoor plumbing should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly to prevent freezing. The cold threat persists through Friday morning, and a Freeze Warning may be issued as conditions become more certain.
