JACKSONVILLE, FLA – The blazing grip of November warmth has finally released its hold on Jacksonville, giving way to a refreshing, albeit fleeting, blast of arctic air.
Just one day ago, the city endured its second-hottest Nov. 20 on record, a sizzling 86 degrees that felt more like late summer than late fall.
Not a single day this month has dipped below average temperatures, only six days staying under 80 degrees.
According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, Jacksonville has not just felt warm, it has baked through its record-warmest two-month stretch to date for this time of year.
But now, with the arrival of a potent cold front, the city may be knocked out of top place for the warmest two-month stretch of heat to date by Nov. 20.
Yet before you toast to winter’s early arrival, remember: this is a month before the official start of winter, a time notorious for its temperature whiplash.
While the chill gripping the region may evoke January nights, it’s not here to stay. The forecast hints at a bounce back to the mid-80s as early as the first week of December, proving yet again that normal temperatures are becoming rare.
For now, take in the chill. Overnight lows will plummet into the 40s, a noticeable departure from the average low of 50 degrees for this time of year through Monday morning.
Daytime highs, meanwhile, will fight to break into the 60s, offering a stark contrast to the usual highs near 70. It’s a cold spell with a bite, but not one entirely unfamiliar.
To put this year’s chill into perspective, Jacksonville’s first brush with 40-degree lows came weeks earlier in 2023, during the first days of November. That year, the remainder of the month settled into relative calm before delivering its first freeze on November’s final day. This year, however, no such icy fate awaits—at least not yet.
As for Thanksgiving? Expect to swap sweaters for light T-shirts.
Highs in the mid to upper 70s promise a day that’s comfortably mild, inviting enough to savor an outdoor feast or football under a dry sunlit sky.