Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Friday, January 9, 2026
... Areas of Dense Fog Dissipate this Morning, Giving Way to Another Warm and Mostly Dry Day... A Few Coastal Showers Across East-Central Florida this Afternoon, as well as the Far Western Panhandle with Approaching Cold Front... Near Record Warmth Across North Florida this Afternoon... Additional Fog Development Expected Overnight Across North and Central Florida... A Few Locally Strong to Severe Thunderstorms Possible by Daybreak Saturday for the Western Panhandle... Gusty Winds, Heavy Downpours, and an Isolated Tornado Possible... Moderate to High Risk for Rip Currents for all Panhandle and East Coast Beaches...
Updated at 9:30 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 |
Wildfire |
Fog (Overnight) |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Wind Chill (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
| Western Panhandle (Overnight) | Western Panhandle (Overnight) | Western Panhandle (Overnight) | Isolated Statewide |
Locally Statewide |
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Panhandle East Coast West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Another warm and mostly dry day is on tap for the Sunshine State as high pressure remains anchored over the Southeast U.S. Locally dense fog across coastal Northeast Florida and portions of the Panhandle will dissipate by mid-morning, giving way to mostly to partly sunny skies this afternoon. A few coastal showers (near 15% chance of rain) are possible along the Space and Treasure coasts this afternoon, as well as across the far western Panhandle where an approaching cold front may bring a few isolated showers (15-25% chance of rain). Breezy southerly winds ahead of this front will bring wind gusts upwards of 20 mph across the Panhandle this afternoon.
High temperatures will climb into the upper 70s to middle 80s across the state today, which will approach record warm temperatures for many across North Florida.
Sea fog off the Northeast Florida coastline will retreat this afternoon before spreading back inland this evening and overnight. Additional instances of locally dense fog are likely overnight tonight across portions of North and Central Florida, and Dense Fog Advisories will be issued as conditions warrant. The approaching cold front will continue to bring a few isolated to widely scattered showers and embedded thunderstorms to the far western Panhandle overnight, with some locally strong to severe thunderstorms possible by daybreak Saturday where a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) for Severe Thunderstorms is outlooked. A few of these thunderstorms could produce gusty winds, heavy downpours, and an isolated weak tornado. There is a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for Flash Flooding across northern Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties tonight where some locally heavy downpours could bring nuisance flooding and ponding of water, however widespread flash flooding is not expected.
Low temperatures will dip into the upper 50s to middle 60s nearly statewide tonight, the exception being coastal Southeast Florida and the Keys that will only reach the upper 60s to lower 70s.
Rip Currents: A moderate to high risk for rip currents is outlooked for all Panhandle beaches as breezy onshore winds bring dangerous swimming conditions. A moderate risk for rip currents is expected for all East Coast beaches today, with a low risk for all West Coast beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Southerly winds will bring an increase in wave heights across the Panhandle beaches today, with surf of 2-4’ expected. West Coast and East Coast beaches will see waves of 1-2’, with some Florida Keys beaches seeing waves near 3’.
Red Tide was observed at background to medium concentrations in Bay County. Red Tide was not observed along the Florida East Coast or Gulf Coast (valid 12/31/2025).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding across Florida.
Fire Weather: Warm and mostly dry conditions can be expected across the state once again, with moist southerly flow ahead of an approaching cold front keeping relative humidity values well above critical thresholds statewide. Sensitive wildfire conditions will be possible with the ongoing drought conditions and warm temperatures, especially for areas that have seen little to no rainfall recently. Another round of widespread fog will be likely overnight and into Friday morning nearly statewide, with areas of dense fog possible. Foggy conditions and low clouds will further reduce visibilities where there are ongoing or new fires. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 24 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 249 acres.
Drought (1/8/26): Some beneficial rainfall fell across North Florida this past weekend, bringing widespread 1-2” totals to the Panhandle and Big Bend. However, very little change was made to this weeks Drought Monitor outlook due to long-term drought and above normal temperatures keeping drought in place. Short-term rainfall departures are all below normal across the entire state, with the largest deficits (2-4”) over the western Panhandle. Here, moderate drought (level 1 of 4) remains, with severe (level 2 of 4) to extreme drought (level 3 of 4) persisting over the interior eastern Panhandle and Big Bend. Severe drought (level 2 of 4) also remains in place across the Suwannee River Valley where streamflows are well below normal. Some of the biggest changes in recent outlooks has been across West-Central and South Florida where long-term rainfall departures have reached 4-6” in many locations. The severe drought (level 2 of 4) has expanded further south along the Gulf coast to include all of Charlotte and Lee counties, and westward to interior Glades and Hendry counties. Expansion of moderate drought (level 1 of 4) was also added across coastal Southeast Florida. Nearly 87% of the state of Florida is now under a moderate drought (level 1 of 4) or worse. Our next chance for rainfall returns this weekend; however, rainfall totals do not appear substantial enough to allow for category improvements.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 463 (+4) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 28 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: A Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for Flash Flooding is outlooked across the far western Panhandle, across northern Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, for a few locally strong to severe thunderstorms that could produce localized heavy downpours late tonight. However, the heaviest activity is likely to remain confined north and west of the state. Rainfall totals should remain below 0.5” through tonight, though locally higher amounts cannot be ruled out if any heavier downpours occur.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 13.26 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.31 feet below normal for this time of year.
