Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Thursday, March 26, 2026
...Foggy Conditions this Morning Give Way to Partly to Mostly Sunny Skies this Afternoon... A Few Isolated Showers or Storms Possible Across Central Florida... A Locally Heavy Downpour Cannot Be Ruled Out... Temperatures Warm into the 80s Today... Additional Fog and Low Cloud Development Tonight Statewide, Some of Which Could Become Locally Dense... High Risk of Rip Currents for Many Florida East Coast Beaches, Moderate Risk Conditions Along the Florida Panhandle...
Updated at 8:12 AM EDT
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Flash Flooding |
Fog (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
|
Locally East-Central FL |
Statewide |
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Locally North & Interior South FL Statewide
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Florida East Coast Florida Panhandle West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
A few coastal showers remain mainly offshore across Northeast Florida this morning with areas of dense fog throughout the Panhandle, Suwannee River Valley, and interior South Florida. These areas of fog will be slow to lift through the morning hours with Dense Fog Advisories set to expire by mid-morning, though may be extended if conditions warrant. Otherwise, partly to mostly sunny skies will prevail statewide today with only a slight chance for an isolated afternoon shower or storm across Central Florida along the afternoon sea breeze boundary (15-20% chance of rain). Activity will remain mostly light and brief in nature, though a locally heavy downpour and subsequent quick 1-2” of rain cannot be ruled out.
Center of high pressure will begin to settle across the Peninsula today which will bring an upward trend in temperatures. Highs this afternoon will reach the lower to middle 80s throughout much of the state, the exception being along the immediate East Coast and Panhandle where breezier wind gusts of 15-20 mph at times will keep temperatures a few degrees cooler.
Any lingering showers will quickly dissipate after sunset bringing mostly clear and calm conditions overnight. However, plentiful low-level moisture alongside these calm conditions will promote fog and low cloud development statewide tonight. Periods of dense fog are most likely across North and interior South Florida and Dense Fog Advisories will be issued as conditions warrant.
Lows in the upper 50s to middle 60s are expected for much of the state, with upper 60s to lower 70s for Southeast Florida and the Keys.
Rip Currents: Breezy onshore winds and lingering elevated surf will maintain a high risk of rip currents along nearly all Florida East Coast beaches, with a moderate risk of rip currents residing along the Southeast Florida coastline. Moderate risk conditions continue for the Florida Panhandle, with low risks persisting for Northwest Florida and West Florida beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Seas will gradually subside throughout the day today after a prolonged period of persistent easterly onshore winds and elevated surf. Waves of 3-4’ are expected for most East Coast beaches today, with a few waves upwards of 5’ possible in the surf zone. Waves of 1’ are expected for all beaches along the Florida Gulf Coast.
Red Tide was not observed statewide over the past week (valid 3/20/26).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding today.
Fire Weather: Only a few isolated showers are expected across Central Florida today, triggered by the afternoon sea breeze boundary (15-20% chance of rain). Activity will be mostly light and brief in nature, though an isolated lightning strike cannot be ruled out. Relative humidity values will remain well above critical thresholds statewide; however, the combination of persistent drought and extremely dry soils/vegetation will maintain an overall low wildfire threat statewide today. Outside of thunderstorm activity, winds generally out of the east to east-northeast between 5-10 mph can be expected with wind gusts reaching 15-20 mph at times along the I-95 corridor. Areas of patchy to locally dense fog can be expected again tonight across Florida, with the greatest chance for periods of reduced visibilities residing across North and interior South Florida; a further reduction in visibility can be expected where fog develops near any ongoing wildfires or burns. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 68 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 4,134 acres.
Drought (3/19/26): Very little changes were made to this week’s Drought Monitor update, even despite much of the Sunshine State seeing beneficial wetting rains earlier in the period. As previously mentioned, the rainfall associated with the potent springtime cold front helped Florida locations in the near-term, as observed in improved KBDI values; however, observed rainfall totals were still not enough to alleviate long-term drought and dry soils/vegetation. Widespread severe (level 2 of 4) to extreme drought (level 3 of 4) continues nearly statewide, with the largest change occurring along the northern reaches of the Suwannee River. Exceptional (level 4 of 4) drought has been introduced over eastern Madison, Northern Gilchrist, western Suwannee, and Hamilton counties; portions of the Florida-Georgia state line saw worsening soil moisture and precipitation deficits and several streamflow gauges moved into record-low territory for mid-March. Very heavy rain fell in parts of Miami-Dade County, resulting in some improvements to drought conditions, though the benefit of the heavy rain was likely limited given runoff and very low water levels in the Everglades.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 465 (+5) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 26 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no organized risk for flash flooding across Florida today. A few isolated showers throughout Central Florida this afternoon may bring a locally heavy downpour or two capable of producing a quick 1-2” of rainfall. However, most activity will be light and brief in nature.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 12.00 feet, which is within the operational band and is 2.34 feet below normal for this time of year.
