A molten-like heat settled over Jacksonville in the days leading up to the first day of summer. Scorching temperatures are nothing new to Florida residents, but experts say the lack of rain along with the heat is troubling. That’s because the recent weather in Northeast Florida has been hotter and drier than usual and one lightning strike on a windy day could mean wildfires as big as the ones the state had in 1998. That year, the fires raged across 506,976 acres in the Sunshine State and damaged or destroyed 337 structures, according to the Florida Forest Service. read more