Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Saturday, February 22, 2025
...Mostly Dry Conditions Today and Tonight Under High Pressure With A Few Showers Possible Along the Atlantic Coast and Across South Florida...Temperatures Continue to Gradually Warm But Remain Cool Across North and Into Central Florida...Sensitive Wildfire Conditions Along the Florida Panhandle; Locally Sensitive Wildfire Conditions Across the Peninsula...High Risk For Rip Currents Along the East Coast' Moderate Risk Along the Florida Panhandle...Localized Areas of Frost Possible Across Interior Portions of North Florida Overnight Into Sunday Morning...Areas of Patchy to Locally Dense Fog Possible Across the Peninsula Overnight Into Sunday Morning...
Updated at 8:02 AM EST
Today's Threats:
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No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
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Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Flash Flooding |
Fire Weather |
Freezing (Overnight) |
Fog (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
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FL Panhandle Iso. Peninsula |
North FL |
Locally Iso. Peninsula |
E-Coast FL Panhandle W-Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
A large area of high pressure expanding across the Eastern U.S. will continue to promote mostly dry and sunny conditions across the Sunshine State today (near 0-25% chance of rain). A few isolated showers will be possible along the Atlantic Coast and across South Florida with the help of onshore winds.
High temperatures will remain in the low to middle 60s along the Florida Panhandle, middle to upper 60s across the Northern Peninsula, and low to middle 70s across Central Florida, and 70s across South Florida this afternoon. Winds will become weaker and more easterly today as high pressure becomes more centered over the Southeast U.S. but will continue to reach up to 10 mph with gusts upwards of 5-15 mph can be expected statewide today. Sensitive wildfire conditions can be expected along the Florida Panhandle this afternoon with locally sensitive wildfire conditions across the Peninsula where areas with ongoing drought conditions continue to see little to no rainfall.
Mostly dry and clear conditions will continue through the overnight hours with an isolated shower or two possible along the Atlantic Coast and across South Florida at times (near 0-20% chance of rain).
Low temperatures will fall back into the upper 30s to low 40s along the Florida Panhandle and across the Suwannee Valley, middle 40s to low 50s across the rest of the Northern Peninsula, low to middle 50s across Central Florida, middle 50s to middle 60s across South Florida, and upper 60s to low 70s along the Keys. Localized areas of frost may be possible across interior portions of the Florida Panhandle and Suwannee Valley overnight into Sunday morning. Areas of patchy to locally dense fog will be possible along the Peninsula overnight into Sunday morning.
Rip Currents: A high risk for rip currents will continue the East Coast today due to breezy winds and ocean swells lingering along the coastline. A low to moderate risk can be expected o persist along the Florida Panhandle while a low risk returns along the West Coast. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: As winds weaken this weekend, ocean swells will quickly begin to dissipate and allow beach and boating conditions to improve. 3-6’ breaking waves will persist along Florida’s Atlantic Coast today with locally higher 7’ breaking waves possible along the Atlantic-facing Keys. All other Florida beaches can expect wave heights near or below 1-2’ to return today.
Red Tide has been observed in 37 samples collected from Florida (valid 2/21). Background to low concentrations have been observed in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte, Collier, Okaloosa, and Duval Counties. Background to medium concentrations have been observed offshore of Monroe County. Background to high concentrations have been observed in Sarasota County. Fish kills and respiratory irritation have been reported from and/or offshore of Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Monroe Counties.
Coastal Flooding: Coastal flooding is not expected today.
Fire Weather: Mostly dry conditions can be expected across the state under the influence of high pressure builds over the Eastern U.S. Winds will become calmer and more easterly today as high pressure becomes more centered over the Southeast U.S. but will continue to reach up to 10 mph with gusts upwards of 5-15 mph can be expected statewide today. Relative humidity values will fall to 30-45% along the Florida Panhandle and near 40-55% across much of the Peninsula this afternoon. Sensitive wildfire conditions can be expected along the Florida Panhandle this afternoon with locally sensitive wildfire conditions across the Peninsula where areas with ongoing drought conditions continue to see little to no rainfall. Weaker winds expected throughout the day will help to minimize the overall wildfire threat. Areas of patchy to locally dense fog will be possible along the Peninsula overnight into Sunday morning. Areas of fog may further reduce visibilities in areas with ongoing wildfire conditions. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 14 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 323.28 acres.
Drought: It was a very wet week (as of 2/20) for the Southeast U.S., except for the Florida Peninsula. Temperatures across most of the state continue to run about 6-9-degrees above normal. Along the west coast of Florida, where conditions have been the driest over the past week, the short-term drought indicators allowed for the introduction of Severe Drought in some areas on this week’s Drought Monitor update (valid 2/20) in additional to the already existing area of Severe Drought remaining south of Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach and Hendry Counties. Abnormally Dry (emerging drought) to Moderate Drought conditions remain in place across much of the rest of the Peninsula from the Keys northward towards the I-4 corridor. Abnormally Dry conditions also persist across the Eastern Panhandle and Western Big Bend, despite recent wetting rains. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is outlooking near to below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall statewide over the next week or so, which may allow for further worsening of drought conditions.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 335 (+1) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 20 Florida counties (Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Sarasota and Sumter) with an average KBDI over 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no risk for flash flooding today.
Riverine Flooding: Several rivers along the Panhandle and Big Bend have reached or are forecast to rise into Action Stage (bank-full) over the next couple of days with widespread rainfall from mid this week; however, riverine flooding is not expected at this time. Heavy rainfall may allow for quick-response rivers along the Panhandle and Big Bend to see water levels rise faster than other larger river basins. There are no additional riverine concerns at this time. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 13.77 feet, which is within the operational band and is 0.78 feet below normal for this time of year.
