Cold front could bring rain

Dry weather is in the forecast for the next several weeks, but the area may get a chance at rain on Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.

A 50 percent chance of rain is expected for Gainesville starting Friday through the night as a cold front moves into the area, meteorologists reported. Some of the storms could be strong to severe, especially north of a line from Gainesville to Jacksonville, the weather service warned. The possibility for rainfall is higher than earlier predictions of 20 to 30 percent reported at the beginning of the week.

Rain would improve North Florida's climbing drought index. But firefighters have warned that lightning is another danger facing the area as the fire season continues. Lightning strikes also can spark fires.

Temperatures should remain about the same, in spite of the approaching front, with highs in the mid- to upper 80s and lows in the 60s.