Severe storms hit Jacksonville ahead of holiday weekend

Jacksonville, FL — The heat wasn't the only weather story coming out of today.

Severe storms tracked across much of Jacksonville over the course of several hours, bringing heavy rain, some hail, and high winds- with gusts clocked up to 70 miles per hour along Old San Jose south of Downtown Jacksonville.

GALLERY: Severe weather moves through Jacksonville

Those winds knocked down a couple of trees, including one that landed on a house along McGirts Blvd in the Ortega area.

A few trees came down on the Westside, including one that leaned on a home and another that fell on a car, and there were scattered reports of limbs and power lines down. JEA reported thousands of power outages, especially around Normandy, Ortega, and through Miramar, Lakewood, and Englewood.

In terms of the heat, Jacksonville did register 99 degrees, which ties the record set in 1970. The heat index felt well in the triple digits, and that heat is expected to continue in to the Fourth of July holiday.