Jacksonville weather turns dangerous as extreme cold and wind warnings take hold
Jacksonville weather shifted sharply into a rare, hazardous cold pattern Saturday, with a combination of strong winds and hard-freeze conditions setting up for tonight into Sunday morning. The immediate concern is the overlap of an Extreme Cold Warning, Freeze Warning, and Wind Advisory—conditions that can bring wind chills into single digits and raise risks for exposed pipes, pets, and anyone without reliable heat.
As of 9:10 a.m. ET Saturday, Jan. 31, Jacksonville was mostly cloudy and 47°F, but temperatures are expected to plunge later today and overnight as winds strengthen and Arctic air deepens across the region.
| Timing (ET) | Expected conditions | Key numbers (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Sat late morning (Jan. 31) | Mostly cloudy | 47°F |
| Sat afternoon | Wind increases; a passing shower possible | High ~53°F |
| Sat 3:00 p.m.–Sun 7:00 a.m. | Wind Advisory window | NW 15–25 mph; gusts up to ~40 mph |
| Sat 7:00 p.m.–Sun 11:00 a.m. | Freeze Warning window | Lows as low as ~21–23°F |
| Sat 9:00 p.m.–Sun 10:00 a.m. | Extreme Cold Warning window | Wind chills as low as ~8°F |
Jacksonville weather: Extreme cold and wind timeline
The alert stack is centered on Saturday night through Sunday morning, when the coldest air and strongest winds overlap. In practical terms, that means it may not be the air temperature alone that causes the biggest problems—it’s the wind-driven heat loss that can make it feel dangerously colder on exposed skin.
The warning windows are clearly defined: winds ramp this afternoon and remain elevated overnight, while the freeze and extreme cold conditions intensify after sunset and persist into Sunday morning. The wind advisory period runs into early Sunday, and the extreme cold warning extends later into the morning, when many people are outside for work, errands, or weekend activities.
What the warnings mean on the ground
With gusts that can reach roughly 40 mph, even routine outdoor tasks can become uncomfortable quickly—especially on bridges and open areas where wind exposure is higher. Those gusts can also knock down small limbs and move unsecured items, which is why residents typically see a rise in minor property impacts during wind advisories.
The freeze warning signals a hard freeze risk for a city that does not frequently sit near the low 20s. That matters for household plumbing, irrigation lines, and sensitive plants. The extreme cold warning adds a human safety layer: wind chills in the single digits can lead to frostbite risk on exposed skin with prolonged exposure, particularly for children, older adults, and anyone without adequate cold-weather gear.
Sunday brings sun, not warmth
Sunday is expected to be sunny but still cold and breezy, a classic post-front setup where clear skies do not translate into comfort. High temperatures are forecast around 44°F, with the morning starting cold before any afternoon improvement arrives.
This is also when the “tail end” of the event can catch people off guard: the coldest wind chills can linger after daybreak, even as the calendar says “Florida” and the sky looks calm and bright. The advisory and warning expirations are timed for late morning, reflecting that risk window.
Gradual rebound early next week
The pattern moderates starting Monday, with highs returning to the mid-50s and then climbing into the mid-60s Tuesday and around the low 70s by Wednesday. Overnight lows also climb, easing stress on pipes and tender vegetation after the weekend’s hard freeze.
Rain chances appear mid-to-late week, with a couple of showers possible Wednesday afternoon and a wetter signal Thursday, alongside a cooler drop behind that system. For planning purposes, the best “weather window” for outdoor work that needs milder conditions looks like Tuesday into early Wednesday before rain chances increase.
What to watch in the next 24 hours
The most meaningful short-term indicators are wind strength this afternoon, how quickly temperatures fall after sunset, and whether any brief showers add dampness ahead of the coldest stretch—wet conditions can accelerate heat loss and make outdoor exposure more dangerous. If the wind remains elevated overnight, wind chills can stay hazardous even if temperatures are a couple of degrees higher than forecast.
If you’re in Duval County or surrounding northeast Florida/southeast Georgia areas under the same headline set, the key planning takeaway is simple: conditions worsen quickly after dark, remain harsh through early Sunday, and then improve gradually—but not immediately—into the workweek.
Sources consulted: National Weather Service; NOAA; Associated Press; News4JAX; Action News Jax
