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Quite a chill for this time of year is on the way with record or near record lows Tue. & Wed.  This shot of cold is similar to last yr. -- though about a week later -- when we had our latest freeze on record at JIA.  We won't drop to freezing but could see a bit of light frost well inland (primarily west & northwest of Jax) & should be in record low territory.  The record low for Tue., the 15th, is 39 set just a few yrs. ago in 2004...the record for Wed., the 16th, is 39 set in 1950 (interesting! -- was also a strong La Nina yr. & is one of the analog yrs. for the upcoming hurricane season).  This pattern does actually match up very well with strong La Nina springs -- stormy & chilly.  But once we shake the chill, the First Coast is in for some gorgeous weather with light winds, sunny skies, low humidity with cool nights & warm days beginning later Wed. but especially Thu. into the upcoming weekend.

Dr. Gray & Klotzbach from Colorado St. have issued their updated tropical cyclone forecast for the '08 hurricane season increasing the number of storms to 15...hurricanes to 8...intense hurricanes to 4.  Last yr. was an above avg. season but few Americans remember that given that the U.S. impacts were minimal -- -- there were 2 landfalling Cat. 5 storms for the first time in modern history!  Realize this is nothing but a very general forecast & -- as even Gray & Klotzbach will say -- is more of a curiosity than anything else.  Click here for the detailed summary of the forecast.  An update will be issued June 3rd...with a seasonal forecast from NOAA in mid to late May.

Speaking of hurricanes...the Nat. Hurricane Center -- including the new NHC director, Bill Read + a couple of hurricane specialists -- will be on their annual week of tours to coastal communities beginning Mon.  The hurricane hunter aircraft WP-Orion will also be on display.  These are interesting tours free of charge -- schedule:

Earth Gauge: The Great Outdoors

Between 1997 and 2003, there was a 50 percent decline in the proportion of children aged 9 to 12 who spent time hiking, fishing, biking, gardening, and participating in other outdoor activities.  Between 1981 and 1991, nature recreation per person declined by one to 1.3 percent each year, and since then, has declined by 18 to 25 percent.  Despite these declines, there are numerous health benefits to getting outside and enjoying nature:

• Studies have found that adults and kids that spend time outside benefit from better mental focus and restored attention; 
• Studies in Sweden and England have found that “Green exercise” – such as jogging in a natural setting – can result in less anxiety, anger, and depression;
• Contact with nature has been linked to better school performance – studies in California and nation-wide found that schools with outdoor nature classrooms or other nature-based programs saw student gains in social studies, math, language arts, and science.

Tip: Take it outside!  Enjoy nice weather by visiting a park or nature center, hiking or fishing, taking a walk around the neighborhood, riding your bike, or finding another way to reconnect with the great outdoors.  Not only will you benefit, but the environment will, too.  A 2006 survey of urban adults, aged 18 to 90, found that participation in “wild” nature activities before age 11 helped to shape positive environmental attitudes and behaviors in adulthood.
(Sources: C. Charles, R. Louv, L. Bodner, and B. Guns.  January 2008. “Children and Nature 2008: A Report on the Movement to Reconnect Children to the Natural World.” The Children and Nature Network, ; “Communing with Nature Less and Less.” ScienceDaily, February 5, 2008, ; Wells, N. and Lekies, K. “Nature and the Life Course: Pathways from Childhood to Adult Environmentalism.” Children, Youth and Environments 16(1), 2006.