Extreme to exceptional drought conditions combined with dried available fuels resulted in a wildfire developing across northeast Florida. High dispersions and gusty winds at the end of March especially assisted in the spreading of the new wildfire.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions combined with dried available fuels resulted in a wildfire developing across northeast Florida. High dispersions and gusty winds at the end of March especially assisted in the spreading of the new wildfire.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 11:27 PM UTC, 4 hours 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jacksonville FL 627 PM EST Sat Feb 28 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... For the latest NE FL and SE GA Daily Key Messages please visit: https:/www.weather.gov/media/jax/briefings/nws-jax-briefing.pdf - Locally dense fog Tonight, especially over inland GA - Extended Period of Breezy Onshore Winds Expected Next Week. Elevated Surf and High Risk for Rip Currents Likely Monday - Wednesday && .SATURDAY EVENING UPDATE... No significant updates to the forecast this evening. Expecting areas of fog and low clouds to return overnight, with the highest chances for fog and especially locally dense fog expected to be over inland GA closer to the broad high pressure center where winds are forecast to be lighter. Low temps will range from the 40s to near 50 inland to the low 50s near the coast and St. Johns River Basin. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... WEATHER CONCERNS THROUGH TONIGHT: - Localized dense fog Tonight High pressure will continue to build from the north through Tonight. The low level flow will be from the northeast then north overnight. Low level moisture is expected to produce fog and stratus again Tonight, which will advect southwestward across area. Temperatures will trend below average Tonight. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Main Highlights During the Period: - Breezy onshore winds develop Monday, with chances of coastal showers High pressure overhead Sunday will bring northeasterly winds across the area, resulting in a light breeze along coastal locations. This will bring cooler temperatures along the coast as daytime highs will be in the upper 60s, while inland locations will reach into the mid to upper 70s with mostly clear skies expected. By the evening hours, temperatures will cool down into the mid to upper 40s across inland locations, with lower to mid 50s along the coast. Light winds during the overnight hours may bring about some patchy to areas of fog to develop for locations near the I-75 corridor. A dry cold front begins to edge down along the coastline as the high pressure shifts towards the Atlantic. By Monday, northeastern winds along the coast will increase due to the influence of the cold front and an inverted trough over the local waters. Could see coastal winds from 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to around 30 mph, by the afternoon hours. As was stated in the previous forecast package, lower water levels with the drought and overall lack of longevity with the event, no significant coastal flooding type of concerns at this time. Otherwise, the onshore flow will bring isolated to scattered coastal showers by the afternoon to evening hours respectively. Slightly warmer temperatures on Monday compared to Sunday, but overall similar pattern. The onshore flow will provide cooler air over coastal locations as daytime highs reach into the upper 60s to lower 70s, while mid 70s to lower 80s along inland locations. Overnight Lows in the lower 50s over SE GA, while mid to upper 50s over NE FL and coastal locations. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Main Highlights During the Period: - Chances for coastal showers as the onshore flow lingers through much of the upcoming week. Onshore flow will persist through much of the upcoming week, with northeasterly winds shifting to become easterly by midweek. This persistent flow will continue the trend of coastal showers each day into midweek. By Wednesday, guidance shows PWATs rising to ~1.25 area-wide as the onshore flow will allow for moisture to make its way towards inland locations, bringing chances of scattered showers on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures this period will trend above seasonal averages, with far inland locations reaching possibly into the mid to upper 80s by the back half of the upcoming week and into next weekend. && .AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/... MVFR cloud decks continue to scatter and even dissipate across regional terminals, though this will be rather short lived as MVFR to IFR ceilings and vsbys are forecast to return late tonight. Confidence is higher with respect to low stratus, and lower for vsbys pending how much winds calm down overnight. Expecting just enough of a breeze to limit vsbys from dropping significantly, though of course will continue to monitor trends tonight. Otherwise, restrictions are expected to lift mid to late morning Sunday, with a few low clouds likely to linger closer to coastal terminals into Sunday afternoon. Winds expected to be a bit lighter Sunday, though still near or just above 10 kts at SGJ. && .MARINE... High pressure to the north will build more toward the northeast and strengthen early next week, with a trough developing over the coastal waters. The high will move away toward the east later in the week. Rip Currents: Low-end moderate risk today with increasing north-northeasterly winds and surf building to 2-3 feet along the NE FL beaches. Low risk is expected for SE GA beaches. Similar expectations are forecast Sunday. && .FIRE WEATHER... - Patchy High Dispersions Monday, Tuesday High pressure building into the area will allow for northeasterly flow to take hold across the area on Sunday and into the upcoming week. Drier air over the area on Sunday will bring lower RH values but will remain over critical levels. Good dispersions over inland locations with Fair to Poor values closer towards the coast on Sunday. By Monday/Tuesday, Good dispersions values are expected area- wide with some locations of High dispersions possible. The onshore northeasterly flow will allow for scattered showers along the coast into midweek. FOG POTENTIAL AND OTHER REMARKS: Potential for patchy fog over far inland locations as winds lessen during the overnight hours. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 46 77 47 75 / 0 0 0 10 SSI 50 67 51 67 / 0 0 0 10 JAX 47 74 49 74 / 0 0 0 10 SGJ 51 68 53 73 / 0 0 0 10 GNV 48 78 49 80 / 0 0 0 10 OCF 49 78 51 81 / 0 0 0 10 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. MARINE...None. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Pace CT wildfire continued through the month of March at 318 acres with 75% containment.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1330149.