Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Friday, February 21, 2025
...Mostly Dry and Clear Conditions Across the State Today And Tonight Under High Pressure; Isolated Showers Possible Along the Atlantic Coast With the Help of Breezy Onshore Winds...Cool Temperatures Across North Florida and Into Central Florida Today, Remaining Warmer Across South Florida...Winds Near 10-15 MPH With Gusts Upwards of 15-20 Possible...Locally Sensitive Wildfire Conditions Possible Across North Florida and the Western Peninsula...Hazardous Beach and Boating Conditions Persist Nearly Statewide...High Risk For Rip Currents Along East Coast and Sun Coast; Moderate Risk Along the Florida Panhandle...Low Temperatures Falling Back Into the 30s Across Much of North Florida Tonight...Areas of Frost Possible Overnight Into Saturday Morning...
Updated at 8:42 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Flash Flooding |
Fire Weather |
Freezing (Overnight) |
Fog (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
|
|
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FL Panhandle & Suwannee Valley Iso. W-Peninsula |
Locally North FL |
Iso. Peninsula |
E & W Coast FL Panhandle |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Freeze Warnings remain in effect across interior portions of the Northern Peninsula and Cold Weather Advisories remain in effect across North and West-Central Florida through the mid-morning hours this morning as sub-freezing temperatures as low as 25-degrees and very cold wind chills as low as 11-25-degrees are expected.
A large area of high pressure expanding across the Central and Eastern U.S. will promote mostly dry and sunny conditions across the Sunshine State today (near 0-15% chance of rain). A few isolated showers cannot be ruled out along the East Coast and Keys throughout the day with the help of breezy onshore winds.
High temperatures will remain in the 50s across North Florida and 60s across Central Florida this afternoon but continue to rise into the low to middle 70s across South Florida and the Keys. Breezy northeasterly winds near 10-15 mph with gusts near upwards of 15-20 mph can be expected statewide today. Locally sensitive wildfire conditions will be possible over areas with ongoing drought conditions and in areas that have seen little to no rainfall recently in the Florida Panhandle, Suwannee Valley, and Western and Interior portions of the Peninsula as drier air continues to filter southward.
Mostly dry and clear conditions will continue through the overnight hours with an isolated shower or two possible along the East Coast and Keys (near 0-15% chance of rain). Winds will calm overnight but continue to reach up to 10 mph with gusts up to 10-20 mph.
Low temperatures will fall back into the low to middle 30s across interior portions of North Florida, upper 30s to low 40s along coastal portions of North Florida, upper 40s to middle 50s across Central Florida, upper 50 to middle 60s across South Florida, and upper 60s along the Keys tonight. Areas of frost will be possible across North Florida overnight into Saturday morning. Lingering breezy winds may cause temperatures in localized portions of North Florida to feel like they are near freezing overnight into Saturday morning.
Rip Currents: A high risk for rip currents can be expected along the East Coast and Sun Coast today due to breezy winds and ocean swells impacting the coastlines. A low to moderate risk can be expected elsewhere today. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Hazardous beach and boating conditions will persist nearly statewide today as breezy winds and ocean swells persist. Large breaking waves near 4-8’ will continue along Florida’s Atlantic Coast today and into tonight before gradually dissipating. High Surf Advisories may be issued as conditions warrant. Similarly, large breaking waves near 3-6’ can be expected along the West Coast this morning, returning to near 2-5’ later today and tonight as swells begin to gradually dissipate. 1-3’ waves can be expected to persist along the Florida Panhandle throughout the day.
Red Tide has been observed in 34 samples collected from Southwest Florida (valid 2/19). Background to low concentrations have been observed in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Lee, Collier, and Monroe Counties. Background to medium concentrations have been observed in Charlotte County. Background to high concentrations have been observed in Sarasota County. Fish kills and respiratory irritation have been reported in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Monroe Counties.
Coastal Flooding: Coastal flooding is not expected today; however, localized instances of elevated tides and nuisance flooding cannot be ruled out as ocean swells impact numerous coastlines.
Fire Weather: Mostly dry conditions can be expected across the state under the influence of high pressure builds over the Eastern U.S. Breezy northeasterly winds near 10-15 mph with gusts upwards of 15-20 mph can be expected statewide today. Winds will gradually calm overnight but continue to reach up to 10 mph with gusts up to 10-20 mph. Relative humidity values will fall to 25-35% across the Florida Panhandle and Suwannee Valley and near 40-55% across western and interior portions of the Peninsula this afternoon. Locally sensitive wildfire conditions will be possible over areas with ongoing drought conditions and in areas that have seen little to no rainfall recently. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 16 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 555.53 acres.
Drought: It was a very wet week (as of 2/20) for the Southeast U.S., except for the Florida Peninsula. Temperatures across most of the state continue to run about 6-9-degrees above normal. Along the west coast of Florida, where conditions have been the driest over the past week, the short-term drought indicators allowed for the introduction of Severe Drought in some areas on this week’s Drought Monitor update (valid 2/20) in additional to the already existing area of Severe Drought remaining south of Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach and Hendry Counties. Abnormally Dry (emerging drought) to Moderate Drought conditions remain in place across much of the rest of the Peninsula from the Keys northward towards the I-4 corridor. Abnormally Dry conditions also persist across the Eastern Panhandle and Western Big Bend, despite recent wetting rains. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is outlooking near to below normal temperatures and below normal rainfall statewide over the next week or so, which may allow for further worsening of drought conditions.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 335 (-16) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 20 Florida counties (Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Sarasota and Sumter) with an average KBDI over 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no risk for flash flooding today.
Riverine Flooding: Several rivers along the Panhandle and Big Bend have reached or are forecast to rise into Action Stage (bank-full) over the next couple of days with widespread rainfall from mid this week; however, riverine flooding is not expected at this time. Heavy rainfall may allow for quick-response rivers along the Panhandle and Big Bend to see water levels rise faster than other larger river basins. There are no additional riverine concerns at this time. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 13.85 feet, which is within the operational band and is 0.70 feet below normal for this time of year.
