Current Weather Outlook

Rip Currents: Beach conditions will begin to relax across the Panhandle and Northeast Florida today where a moderate risk for rip currents is expected. A high risk for rip currents is still expected to persist for all other East Coast beaches. A low risk is outlooked along all West Coast beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.

Marine Hazards: The sea state will continue to diminish today along the East Coast with surf of 2-4’ expected for all beaches. A few waves upwards of 5’ cannot be ruled out for the Treasure Coast. Waves near 1-2’ can be expected for all Panhandle and West Coast beaches today.

Red Tide was observed at background concentrations offshore Bay and Gulf County (valid 4/10/26).

Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding today.

Fire Weather: A dry airmass will remain entrenched across much of the state as high pressure settles overhead. A mostly sunny and dry day is on tap throughout the Sunshine State. Relative humidities will remain above critical thresholds throughout the eastern Peninsula, though will reach near critical thresholds (25-40%) across interior North and West-Central Florida. Given the ongoing extreme to exceptional drought (level 3-4 of 4), elevated wildfire conditions can be expected today. Stronger winds will reside across the eastern Peninsula today, with easterly to east-northeasterly gusts of 20-25 mph expected. These winds may promote blowing smoke of any active wildfires, including the Newman Dr Wildfire in Naples. Areas of patchy fog may develop tonight across Northeast Florida and the western Panhandle, some of which could become locally dense. Areas of fog may further reduce visibilities in areas experiencing active wildfire smoke. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 63 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 7,381 acres.

Drought (4/9/26): Although it was a rather wet start to the week across much of the Florida Peninsula, very little improvements were introduced on this week’s Drought Monitor update. A general 1-3” of rainfall fell throughout Central and South Florida since last update, with some localized areas picking up 5-8” of rainfall, especially along the immediate East Coast. These rainfall totals have improved some of the short-term drought indicators, such as KBDI and 30-60 day rainfall departures, though were not enough to provide real relief to the long-term drought and seriously dry soil moisture conditions. An extreme drought (level 3 of 4) remains in place throughout much of South Florida, the exception being the immediate Southeast coastline where a general moderate (level 1 of 4) to severe drought (level 2 of 4) are found. There were no additional changes throughout Central Florida where a moderate (level 1 of 4) to severe drought (level 2 of 4) remains along the I-4 corridor and through the Orlando metropolitan area and extreme drought (level 3 of 4) elsewhere. Throughout North Florida, exceptional drought (level 4 of 4) expanded to include the remainder of the Big Bend region and much of the Suwannee River Valley. Although there were some light rain totals throughout North Florida, it was only in very localized pockets that exceeded 2”+. Rainfall departures over the past 90 to 120 days (3-4 months) or longer are really driving the persistent drought throughout North Florida. In fact, since September 1 (8 months ago), Tallahassee has found itself in a rainfall deficit nearly 20 inches below normal! About 11 inches of rain has been tallied up since Sept 1 2025 in Tallahassee, which is 5 inches below the previous record over a similar stretch. Record low streamflows and bone dry soils/grounds have resulted in the additional exceptional drought expansion this week. Looking ahead, unfortunately a very dry and warm stretch of weather is expected through at least the next week as high pressure settles overhead and allows for mostly sunny skies. Additional drought expansion is expected throughout North Florida on next week’s update, though there could be some drought reduction throughout Central and South Florida given lots of rainfall since the Tuesday cutoff time for this week’s update.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 444 (+8) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 21 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).   

Flash Flooding: There is no organized risk for flash flooding today across Florida. 

Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.

Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 12.07 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.94 feet below normal for this time of year.