Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Monday, December 22, 2025
...Breezy Onshore Winds Upwards of 30 mph Along the I-95 Corridor... A Few Coastal Showers Possible Today and Tonight... Seasonable to Above Normal Highs Expected...A Few Showers Linger Across Southeast Florida this Evening, Dry Conditions Prevail Overnight... Instances of Patchy Fog Possible Towards Daybreak Tuesday Across the Big Bend and Suwannee Valley...Moderate to High Risk for Rip Currents for Panhandle and East Coast Beaches...
Updated at 09:02 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Fog (Overnight) |
Coastal Flooding |
Rip Currents |
|
Locally North & West-Central FL |
Locally Big Bend & Suwannee Valley |
Panhandle & East Coast West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
A mostly dry and sunny day is on tap for the Sunshine State as a weak cold front passes through North and Central Florida today. This weak frontal passage will not have enough moisture to work with to produce any sensible impacts in the way of rainfall, however breezy onshore winds will develop this afternoon across much of the Peninsula as a strong high pressure settles across the Southeast U.S. in the wake of the front. Wind gusts upwards of 30 mph are possible across coastal Southeast Florida, with inland locations seeing gusts upwards of 20-25 mph. A few coastal showers cannot be ruled out with these onshore winds along the I-95 corridor, though any activity will remain light and brief (15-20% chance of rain). Relative humidities may dip near critical thresholds across the Panhandle this afternoon which, paired with some breezier winds, could lead to locally sensitive to elevated wildfire conditions.
High temperatures will top out in the lower 70s for much of North Florida, and middle 70s to lower 80s across Central and South Florida.
Breezy wind gusts upwards of 30 mph will continue across coastal Southeast Florida overnight where a few brief sprinkles or light showers may linger (15-20% chance of rain). Otherwise, clear and calm conditions will prevail. Moisture will quickly increase again across the Panhandle where a clear night may promote low cloud and patchy fog development towards daybreak Tuesday, some of which could be locally dense.
Low temperatures will bottom out in the upper 40s to lower 50s across North Florida, middle 50s to lower 60s in Central Florida, and middle 60s to lower 70s in South Florida.
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30.
For the latest on the tropics, please visit the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at www.hurricanes.gov.
Rip Currents: A moderate to high risk for rip currents can be expected for all Panhandle beaches with building ocean swells from breezy winds. Dangerous swimming conditions and a high risk for rip currents is expected for all East Coast beaches where the breeziest onshore winds will continue to build an offshore ocean swell. A low risk will return for all West Coast beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Surf will increase across Panhandle beaches today as breezy winds build an offshore ocean swell. Wave heights of 1-3’ can be expected, with waves near 1’ for all West Coast beaches. An even bigger ocean swell will build offshore the East Coast where waves of 4-6’ will build to 6-8’ overnight. A few waves upwards of 10’ cannot be ruled out in the surf zone across coastal Southeast Florida tonight and early Tuesday morning.
Red Tide was observed at background to medium concentrations in Bay County, very low to low concentrations in Gulf County, and background to very low concentrations in Franklin County. Across Southwest Florida, it was also observed at background concentrations offshore Hillsborough, Manatee, and Monroe counties. Red Tide was not observed along the Florida East Coast (valid 12/19).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding across Florida.
Fire Weather: Another mostly dry day is on tap for the Sunshine State as a weak frontal passage briefly ushers in a fresh surge of drier air across North Florida. The lowest relative humidities will remain confined to north of the Georgia border, however may still dip near critical thresholds over the Panhandle where locally sensitive to elevated wildfire conditions will be possible given breezier winds today. The breeziest winds will occur across the southern Peninsula where wind gusts upwards of 30 mph may lead to increased wildfire spread over any active wildfires. Additionally, patchy fog and low clouds may develop across the Big Bend and Suwannee River Valley which can reduce visibilities further in any active fire regions. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 15 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 145 acres.
Drought (12/18): Plentiful rainfall of 3-6 inches has fallen over much of the Panhandle over the past two weeks which has allowed for some modest relief in the long-term drought conditions, outlined in this week’s latest Drought Monitor outlook. West of SR 231, any severe drought from last week’s outlook has been reduced to a Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) where the heaviest rainfall has fallen. A Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) is still in place across the Big Bend region, though has been reduced back to a Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) over the I-10 corridor across Northeast Florida and the Suwannee Valley. Extreme Drought (level 3 of 4) remains in place across northern Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson counties where 2-4 inch rainfall totals have fallen in the past two weeks, with parts of Jackson, Calhoun, and Madison counties reduced to a Severe Drought (level 2 of 4). However, 60-90 day rainfall departures remain below normal (3-5 inches below normal) over all North Florida which has kept at least some drought category in place despite the recent rainfall. On the contrary, rainfall has been harder to come by across West-Central Florida near the Tampa Bay metro where a Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) has been slightly expanded to include more of Hardee and DeSoto counties. Here, 3-month rainfall departures have begun to near 7 inches in some localized areas. A Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) remains in place across nearly all South Florida south of Lake Okeechobee, with abnormally dry (emerging drought) conditions in place along coastal Southeast Florida. Additional rainfall is expected on Thursday (12/18) across the Panhandle which may lead to additional drought relief, though will be reflected in the next week’s outlook. Dry and warm conditions will return across the state this weekend and early next week, which may bring additional drought deterioration, especially over Central and South Florida.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 427 (+4) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 23 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no organized risk for flash flooding today. A few slow-moving coastal showers may develop across coastal Southeast Florida, though activity is not expected to be widespread or heavy 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 13.52 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.17 feet below normal for this time of year.
