Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Saturday March 21, 2026
...Sunny and Dry Conditions Prevail Statewide... Elevated Winds with Gusts Upwards of 20 mph Across North Florida Today... Temperatures in the 70s and 80s Statewide... Locally Sensitive to Elevated Wildfire Conditions Continue... Areas of Smoke or Haze Possible Along the I-10 Corridor with Recent Burn Activity...Lows into the 50s Tonight... Areas of Patchy Dense Fog Likely Across North and Central Florida Tonight and Sunday Morning...High Risk of Rip Currents for East Coast Beaches...
Updated at 8:53 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 Big Bend & Interior Peninsula Statewide |
|
Locally North & Interior Central FL Statewide
|
East Coast Florida Panhandle West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
High pressure will build across the Gulf states today bringing sunny skies and dry conditions. Chances of rain will remain near zero as dry air filters across the state. High temperatures will climb into the 80s across interior locations this afternoon, with coastal locations remaining in the 70s.
Critically low relative humidities (25-30%) are expected across much of North and interior Central Florida this afternoon which will encourage sensitive to locally elevated wildfire conditions. A recent uptick in local brush burn and wildfire activity has brought increased smoke across the I-10 corridor, especially throughout the Big Bend where air quality conditions are poor. These poor air quality conditions will continue today, likely peaking during the afternoon and evening hours. Easterly winds with gusts upwards of 20 mph across North Florida will blow wildfire smoke throughout the region, with areas of smoke and haze expected this afternoon.
Low temperatures will continue a warming trend this weekend similar to high temperatures. Lows tonight will reach the lower to middle 50s across interior locations throughout the Panhandle and Peninsula, with coastal locations remaining in the middle 50s to lower 60s. Increasing southerly flow and low-level moisture throughout the Panhandle, Big Bend, and North-Central Florida will encourage areas of fog and low clouds to develop after midnight. Some of this fog could become locally dense and Dense Fog Advisories will be issued as conditions warrant. Should fog mix with smoke from any active wildfires, visibilities will be significantly reduced.
Rip Currents: A high risk for rip currents will persist for East Coast beaches today, with a moderate risk expected along the Florida Panhandle. A low risk will continue for all West Coast beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Seas will begin to slowly calm and diminish today along the East Coast, with surf near 3-5’ expected through tonight. A few waves upwards of 6’ cannot be ruled out in the surf zone for Treasure Coast beaches. For all Gulf-facing beaches, waves near 1’ can be expected.
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: Critically low relative humidities (25-30%) are expected across much of North and interior Central Florida today which will continue to encourage sensitive to locally elevated wildfire conditions. Winds will generally remain low, though a few wind gusts upwards of 20-25 mph will be possible across North Florida this afternoon. Warm and dry conditions statewide will continue to cure vegetation and increase the local wildfire risk. A recent uptick in local brush burn and wildfire activity across the I-10 corridor and Big Bend will also bring areas of smoke and haze this afternoon. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 56 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 2,189 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 432 (+4) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 20 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: Flash flooding is not expected across Florida today.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 12.06 feet, which is within the operational band and is 2.35 feet below normal for this time of year.
