By Joe Callahan
Bristol Bilbrey, 4, exults in the cold water coming from the water jets as she tries to cool off with other children at the Wilma Loar Splash Park in Belleview, Fla. on Monday, May 20, 2019. The National Weather Service has issued a wildfire alert for this week, with no rain and temperatures near 100 by the weekend. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Star-Banner] 2019.
Posted May 20, 2019 at 10:33 AMUpdated May 20, 2019 at 6:51 PM
Temps in Marion and Alachua counties expected near record levels. Combined with little rain, officials raise concerns about wildfires.
Extreme heat is expected to increase all week, with the Sunday afternoon high temperature expected to reach nearly 100 degrees in Marion and Alachua counties.
The heat wave is due to a rain-blocking high pressure system that is positioned over the Southeastern United States.
Though residents of both counties will experience above-normal high temperatures, the daily highs will fall short of all-time records, according to more than a century of weather records maintained by the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
On Sunday, predicted to be the hottest day, the expected high in Gainesville is 98 degrees, just shy of the 100-degree record for May 26, which was set in 1953.
On Sunday, the expected high in Ocala is predicted to be 97 degrees, five degrees shy of the 102-degree record for May 26, which was set in 1962.
Though the temperatures will not hit record highs each day, it will be much hotter than normal throughout the week.
From Tuesday through Sunday, the average daily high temperature in Gainesville is expected to be 94.7 degrees, 6.4 degrees higher than the 88.3-degree historic average for the same date range.
The average afternoon high temperature in Ocala is expected to be 94.2 degrees during that same span, 2.9 degrees higher than the 91.3-degree historic average.
With the expected extreme heat and little rain, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville issued a statement about increased concern for wildfires this week.
“There remains elevated wildfire potential through the Memorial Day weekend due to hot temps, low humidity and sparse rainfall,” said Angie Enyedi, a senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.
Enyedi issued graphics that show there is low ground moisture, especially along the Interstate 10 corridor northward. The big concern is that any spark could trigger a wildfire, especially during Memorial Day weekend. Officials said fireworks, campfires, grills and cigarettes could ignite a fire if residents are not careful.
The National Weather Service also noted that National Safe Boating Week runs from May 18-24. The service has partnered with the National Safe Boating Council, a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, to help promote safe boating practices. The council’s website — www.safeboatingcouncil.org — offers free resources such as infographics, videos, audio clips, fact sheets and more.
Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.