Record heat possible by weekend

Get ready for dry, scorching, possibly record-setting temperatures over the Memorial Day weekend. Then expect sweltering weather to stick around for days afterward, courtesy of a persistent high-pressure ridge due to settle in over the area and make it itself at home for a while.

Jacksonville's record high for May 25 is 99, set in 1953. The next three days have record highs of 99 (also in 1953), 98 (1989) and 99 (1967).

Those records could be challenged this year.

“We’ll be either near-record or record for the Jacksonville area,” said Scott Cordero, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service's Jacksonville office. “We’ll warm up markedly, and be almost be precip-free during the entire period as well.”

It will make for a steamy Jacksonville Jazz Festival downtown and a sweltering Florida Folk Festival in White Springs — basically anywhere outside of air-conditioning. Wildfire risks will be up too.

This time of year, humidity levels are typically 50-60 percent in the peak of afternoon. During the next four to eight days though, they will be more like 30-40 percent. "Not exactly Vegas, but dry for us," Cordero said.

On Wednesday and Thursday, interior locations should approach the mid 90s, but the Beaches should still hang in the upper 80s. Friday should be a couple of degrees hotter.

“Saturday is when we really kick in a few degrees more," Cordero said, "and some areas approach 100 inland. Sunday too.” For Baker County, the weather service is calling for highs of 100 on Saturday and 101 the next day. Similar highs are in store for inland South Georgia.

Jacksonville will probably be between 96 to 100 during those days, depending on what part of the city you are in. Even at the Beaches it will be in the low- to mid-90s.

Memorial Day itself, it looks to remain in the low 100s in southeast Georgia and 99 at Jacksonville International Airport.

It will be nearly cloud-free as well, Cordero said, so he recommends putting on sun protection.

"People love to go swimming during Memorial Day weekend, so lather up,” he said.

Rob Emahiser, captain of Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, said he's expecting packed beaches. “The hotter it is, the crowds get bigger," he said.

His suggestions for the heat: Bring shade, hydrate, avoid the hottest hours and pay particular attention if you have underlying health issues or if you're older or have a child with you.

“Just know your limitations," he said. "Stay hydrated, bring lots of water. And remember: Alcohol is not water.”

This time of year — and this kind of weather makes for the peak part of Florida's forest fire season, said Annaleasa Winter, wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service Spring.

It's been 14 days since significant rain in the Jacksonville area, she said Monday, so combustible material like pine straw and leaf litter are more prone to catching on fire. Some wildfires in the area are still smoldering, even a week after they started.

She urged people to take care burning lawn debris (which people can't do in Jacksonville anyway). Fires can also start in these conditions from cigarette butts, heat from the exhaust systems of ATV vehicles and even sparks from lawn equipment, she said.

"Human carelessness is our leading cause for fires this time of year,” Winter said.

So is there hope for relief from the heat any time soon? Don't count on it.

Cordero said forecasting models suggest that high temperatures could drop to 96 at the airport by Tuesday. Even after the worst of the heat wave eases, don't expect a whole lot of relief: The Climate Prediction Center’s long-term outlook calls for temperatures above normal for the next 30 days.

Matt Soergel: (904) 359-4082