Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
...Chilly Start for North and Central Florida...Plenty of Sunshine Expected Again Today...Near-Zero Chance of Rain Statewide...Lingering Breezy Winds Aross the Peninsula, But Especially South Florida...Dry Conditions Continue to Promote Sensitive Wildfire Conditions...Temperatures to Warm Up Nicely...Another Clear and Calm Night...Widespread Frost Possible Near I-10 Corridor...Last Round of Freezing to Sub-Freezing Temperatures Within North Florida for a Few Days...Freeze Warnings Along Northern Suwannee Valley...Moderate Risk Nearly Statewide - High Risk for Southeast Florida Beaches...
Updated at 09:14 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Fog (Overnight) |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Wind Chill (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
|
Locally Statewide |
Interior NE FL & I-10 Corridor Inland North FL |
Interior Big Bend & Suwannee Valley Nature Coast |
Southeast FL Statewide Nature Coast & W. Panhandle |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Another cold start to the morning throughout North and Central Florida following the cold blast of air from the weekend. High pressure over the Southeast U.S. will continue to plenty of sunshine throughout the day. A near-zero chance of rain expands across the Sunshine State as drier air remains in place. This drier air will continue to promote sensitive wildfire conditions with relative humidity values dropping near and into critical thresholds across most of the state this afternoon. Elevated wind gusts of 15-20 mph will continue to develop across the Peninsula today, with stronger wind gusts upwards of 20-30 mph across South Florida by the late afternoon hours.
High temperatures will reach the middle to upper 50s across North Florida, middle to upper 60s across Central Florida and upper 60s to lower 70s across South Florida.
Clear and dry conditions can be expected to persist tonight across the state. One more round of sub-freezing to freezing temperatures can be expected along the I-10 corridor the upper Suwannee Valley tonight, leading to widespread frost development.
Low temperatures will fall into the lower to middle 30s across North Florida, upper 30s to upper 40s across Central Florida and 50s and 60s across South Florida. A Freeze Watch for the northern Suwannee Valley will likely become a Freeze Warning ahead of tonight’s sub-freezing to freezing temperatures. Feels-like temperatures will remain in the upper 20s to middle 30s across North Florida and into the Nature Coast near sunrise Wednesday morning.
Rip Currents: A moderate risk for rip currents can be expected to persist nearly statewide, with a high risk along Southeast Florida beaches due to lingering surf and elevated winds. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: East Coast beaches can expect to see ocean swells of 3-6’ with locally elevated surf of 7-8’ possible just offshore from Southeast Florida beaches. Panhandle and West Coast beaches can expect calmer conditions of 1-2’.
Red Tide was observed at background to medium concentrations in Bay and Gulf counties and background to very low concentrations in Franklin and Walton counties. In Southwest Florida, red tide was also observed at background concentrations in Sarasota and Charlotte counties and offshore Collier County. It was observed at low concentrations offshore Monroe County. It was not observed along the East Coast (valid 1/16/2026).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding across Florida.
Fire Weather: Dry conditions can be expected to continue statewide as high pressure conditions dominate. Relative humidity values will fall near or into critical thresholds this afternoon across North and West Florida this afternoon (30-35%). Elevated wind gusts of 15-20 mph will continue across the Peninsula with stronger wind gusts of 20-30 mph possible throughout South Florida this afternoon. Ongoing drought conditions will lead to sensitive wildfire conditions statewide, even with the Panhandle and Big Bend receiving beneficial rainfall on Sunday. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 31 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 1703 acres.
Drought (1/15/26): Although some rainfall fell across portions of the state in the last week, totals were meager and expansion of much of the drought was seen in the past week’s drought monitor outlook. Rainfall totals were well below 1” across the Panhandle, which wasn’t enough to relieve the very dry soil conditions. Additionally, streamflows continue to diminish to below normal thresholds. As such, a severe drought (level 2 of 4) was expanded to include much of the Panhandle, with only the far western portions remaining in moderate drought (level 1 of 4). The ongoing extreme drought (level 3 of 4) over the northern Big Bend was slightly expanded this week to include additional portions of Calhoun, Jackson, and Jefferson counties. Rainfall totals over the last week were slim, at best, across the I-10 corridor. A severe drought (level 2 of 4) remains in place along the northern portion of the I-75 corridor and Suwannee River Valley. Additional expansion of the severe drought (level 2 of 4) was introduced to West-Central and Southwest Florida where warm and dry conditions have prevailed. Although coastal Southeast Florida saw some coastal showers with rainfall totals upwards of 2”, the developing drought has resulted in additional severe drought across interior Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. As of this drought monitor outlook, over 91% of the state is under a moderate drought (level 1 of 4) or worse.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 477 (-4) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 31 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no risk for flash flooding today.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 13.04 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.66 feet below normal for this time of year.
