By: Joshua Stobe
Weather and climate are related but they are not at all the same. Jacksonville’s weather varies day to day, though the summers are consistently hot and humid. The winters bring temperatures that are cold for native Floridians, but the average monthly low temperatures hover between 44ºF and 53ºF, despite the temperatures reaching as low as 22ºF in January 2026.
But Floridians don’t fear the cold, and they prefer the heat; but they won’t be preferring it for much longer. That’s because of the wet-bulb temperatures that suffocate the state like a soggy blanket.
Wet-bulb temperatures are the temperatures experienced in circumstances where the humidity is measured at 100% in the air. Wet-bulb temperatures are life-threatening at temperatures around 88ºF. They are threatening because in these conditions sweat cannot evaporate off the body, thus we lose the ability to cool down via sweat. Jacksonville residents know all too well the average daytime summer temperature is around 90ºF to 92ºF, and the average summer humidity levels in Jacksonville exceed 90% humidity in the morning hours.
None of this is surprising considering Jacksonville, and the rest of the state is in prime position to experience these conditions. Florida is a peninsula and the warm water which surrounds the state also heavily permeates the atmosphere. The state is also in a tropical zone situated closer to the equator than most states, and that also causes regional temperatures to be naturally higher. Because Florida’s landmass is rather thin compared to incredibly wide states such as Texas or Alaska, the air surrounding Florida heats quicker in conjunction with the aforementioned warm waters off the coasts and in the air.
Wet-bulb temperatures got the name because they used to be measured by wrapping a wet cloth or towel around the bulb of the thermometer to gauge the actual temperature.
Next time you find yourself outside facing wet-bulb temperatures, some things to prevent falling ill to the heat are to wear loose clothing, properly hydrate, seeking A/C-equipped shelter, and pausing any strenuous work.