RECORD RAIN IN JAX

After a completely rainless December we got our first rain Early Sunday morning from a powerful cold front that combined with remnants from last weeks tropical storm Olga. Jacksonville had 1.86" breaking the old record of 1.58" set in 1973. Also Gainesville had 1.72" breaking the record of 1.13" set in 1965. As much as two inches in many parts of the first coast with a squall line that passed through between 3 and 5 a.m. Some totals included: Macclenny 2.15" Craig Field .81"Lake City 1.22" JAX NAS .78"Olustee 1.37" JAX Beach .54"Orange Park .91" St. Augustine 1.16"Keystone Heights 1.02" Brunswick .51".

The deficit continues to mount at -5.78" below normal for the year. In fact November had only one day with rain over .01" measured on the 22nd. The dry pattern is classic a La Nina trademark on Florida's winter climate. This and warmer weather is typical during these Pacific oscillations. December has been 6.2 degrees warmer than average through the 15th.