Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Sunday, February 8, 2026
...Chilly and Cool Start this Morning for the Sunshine State...Plenty of Sunshine Continues Today...Elevated Wildfire Conditions Persist Statewide - Lighter Winds Today Can Be Expected...Buggy Fire in South Florida To Bring Reduced Visibilities and Hazy Skies Throughout the Day...Pleasant Temperatures In the 60s and 70s...Cool and Dry Night Expected...Low-Level Moisture and Calm Winds Allowing Fog Development To Return...Fog and Ongoing Wildfire Smoke May Further Reduce Visibilities Overnight and Monday Morning...Moderate to High Rip Current Risk Persists Statewide...
Updated at 8:38 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Coastal Flooding |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Fog (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
|
Statewide
|
Iso. Suwannee Valley |
North & Central FL Statewide |
East Coast & Southwest FL North & West-Central FL Nature Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Behind yesterday’s dry cold front, a chilly start this morning across much of the state. Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories across Northeast Florida and the Suwannee Valley will expire mid-morning as conditions warm up.
Another day filled with plenty of sunshine can be expected across the state as high pressure conditions dominate. While lighter winds will return today, relative humidity values for much of the state will fall back near or into critical thresholds (20-35%) this afternoon. This will continue to keep the elevated wildfire conditions in place today, especially with the expanding and worsening drought from the winter season. Ongoing smoke from the Buggy Fire in South Florida may create reduced visibilities and hazy conditions across the region throughout the day. High temperatures will reach the 60s to middle 70s across the state this afternoon leading to a pleasant day.
Cool and calm conditions can be expected overnight across the state. Low-level moisture beginning to return across the state will lead to instances of fog developing late overnight and into the early morning hours on Monday. With ongoing wildfires, fog development combined with wildfire smoke may lead to a further reduction of visibilities Monday morning. Low temperatures overnight will fall into the upper 30s to middle 40s across North Florida, middle to upper 40s across Central Florida and 50s across South Florida.
Rip Currents: A moderate to high risk for rip currents persist nearly statewide where ocean swells continue to linger. Onshore winds return along the Florida East Coast creating that higher risk for rip currents. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Onshore winds along the Florida East Coast will keep surf elevated near 4-7’, with the largest waves off the Treasure Coast. Panhandle and Gulf Coast beaches will start to see wave heights near 1-2’ return along all beaches.
Red Tide was observed at background concentrations in Okaloosa County, background to low concentrations in Bay County, and background to very low concentrations in Gulf County. Along the Florida East Coast, red tide was observed at very low concentrations from Palm Beach County. It was not observed in Southwest Florida over the past week (valid 2/6/2026).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding today.
Fire Weather: Dry conditions will persist throughout today with most of the state seeing relative humidity values falling near and below critical thresholds this afternoon (20-35%). Light easterly winds below 10 mph can be expected, as well as gusts. With expanding and worsening drought across the state, elevated wildfire conditions can be expected. Burn bans have extended into Southwest Florida for Collier, Hendry and Glades counties. The Buggy Fire in South Florida may continue to bring reduced visibilities and hazy skies across the region today. Ongoing fires may lead to reduced visibilities, especially tonight with fog developing overnight and early Monday morning. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 105 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 8,912 acres.
Drought (2/5/26): Over the past 10 days, a few cold fronts have brought scattered showers to portions of the state with some light rainfall. However, rainfall totals have remained very meager, at best, and have been unable to truly alleviate the ongoing drought conditions. As such, we have seen further deterioration of drought across much of the state in this week’s Drought Monitor outlook. Across North Florida, rainfall totals of 1-2” were found across the western Panhandle, yet these totals were still not enough to bring much drought relief. The I-10 corridor also saw some light rain, with totals around 0.5-0.75”. However, very dry conditions filtered into the state in the wake of the frontal passages which quickly dried out any soils and grounds. This has resulted in worsening drought and expansion of the extreme drought (level 3 of 4) across Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, and Suwannee counties. This extreme drought remains in place across much of the Suwannee River Valley, Nature Coast, and northern Big Bend. A severe drought (level 2 of 4) occupies much of the rest of North Florida, the exception being the far western Panhandle where a moderate drought (level 1 of 4) is still in place. 60-day rainfall departures are still well below normal across all this region, and in some places upwards of 7” below normal. Worsening drought was also found across Central and South Florida in the past week. New areas of extreme drought (level 3 of 4) have been added to portions of coastal West-Central Florida in Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, DeSoto, and Highlands counties, as well as interior mainland Monroe County in South Florida. The drought in this portion of the state has now begun to become a longer-term concern, with 3-month rainfall departures nearly 4-6” across all Central and South Florida. Additional expansion of the severe drought (level 2 of 4) was added across coastal Indian River and Brevard counties along the East Coast. Across the entire state, streamflows are running well below normal in many rivers, streams, and creeks. Additionally, soil moisture levels are at extremely low levels. Some light rainfall with a few frontal passages are possible this week and next week, however there does not appear to be any real relief coming from the drought. As of this outlook, over 95% of the state is under a moderate drought (level 1 of 4) or worse.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 476 (-2) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 33 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no organized 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 12.65 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.96 feet below normal for this time of year.
