Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management MeteorologySunday, April 28, 2024
...Breezy Winds Along Florida East Coast Throughout the Day...Isolated Showers Possible East of I-95 Corridor and South Florida this Afternoon; Activity Will Remain Light and Brief in Nature...Senstive to Locally Elevated Wildfire Conditions Along I-75 Corridor and Interior Peninsula Due to Ongoing Dry Conditions and Breezy Winds...High Risk for Rip Currents Along All Panhandle and East Coast Beaches; Large Ocean Swells and Breezy Onshore Winds Creating Dangerous Beach and Boating Conditions...Riverine Flooding Continues Along Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers...
Updated at 10:15 AM EDT
Today's Threats:
| No Threat | Low Threat | Medium Threat | High Threat |
| Lightning | Damaging Wind | Tornado | Hail | Fog (Overnight) | Wildfire | River Flooding | Rip Currents |
|
|
Iso. Northeast Florida |
Locally I-75 Corridor & Interior Peninsula |
Santa Fe River at Three Rivers Estates Suwannee River |
Panhandle & East Coast West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Weakening high pressure along the Carolina coastline will continue to bring breezy winds along the Florida East Coast throughout the day. With the help of the sea breeze developing this afternoon, breezy wind gusts upwards of 20-25 mph will be possible for the eastern Peninsula, with some areas seeing wind gusts upwards of 30-35 mph at times. A Wind Advisory remains in effect along coastal portions of Southeast Florida through the late morning hours due to these stronger wind gusts persisting through the morning hours. These breezy onshore winds along the East Coast will help to bring moisture from the Atlantic Ocean slightly inland. Isolated showers will be possible east of the I-95 corridor and throughout South Florida throughout the day (10-20% chance of rain). Any activity that develops should remain light and brief. Breezy winds will also be possible along the far western Panhandle as a large low pressure system moves over the Central Plains today. Wind gusts upwards of 25-30 mph will be possible at times. Breezy winds and partly cloudy skies will keep temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s across North and East Florida. Dry conditions and mostly sunny skies will allow for temperatures across West Florida to reach the middle to upper 80s.
Showers may linger into the evening and overnight hours along portions of Southeast Florida, but just like daytime showers, will remain light and brief in nature (15-20% chance of rain). Calmer winds will return late this evening and overnight allowing for wind gusts to subside. Mostly clear skies can be expected throughout the overnight hours, with a few lingering clouds possible. Areas of patchy fog may be possible across portions of Northeast Florida overnight and early Monday morning due to calmer winds and clearing skies. Low temperatures overnight will reach the upper 50s to low 60s throughout interior North and Central Florida, with low temperatures in the middle to upper 60s along the coastlines. South Florida can anticipate low temperatures in the middle to upper 60s and low 70s.
Rip Currents: A high risk for rip currents can be expected along all Florida Panhandle and East Coast beaches as breezy onshore winds and ocean swells persist. A low risk persists along the West Coast. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: A large ocean swell over the central Gulf of Mexico, due to breezy southeasterly winds, will linger along Panhandle beaches creating wave heights of 4-6’ through the late afternoon hours. A High Surf Advisory remains in effect along the far western Panhandle counties as large breaking waves upwards of 7’ possible will create dangerous beach and boating conditions through Monday evening. Big Bend and all other West Coast beaches can expect wave heights to slowly decline throughout the day but remain elevated near 3-5’ through the afternoon hours. Persistent onshore winds along the Florida East Coast will create wave heights of 4-7’ along beaches throughout the day, including Atlantic-facing Key beaches, and possible waves upwards of 8’ cannot be ruled out in some locations. Dangerous beach and boating conditions will continue for the East Coast as elevated surf continues and breezy wind gusts develop throughout the day. A High Surf Advisory continues along portions of the Southeast Florida coastline where large breaking waves upwards of 5-8’ are possible through this evening.
Red Tide has not been observed at or above background levels over the past week.
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk of coastal flooding today.
Fire Weather: Easterly to southeasterly winds will continue due to high pressure off the Carolina coastline. Breezy winds of 10-15 mph will develop throughout the day, with wind gusts strengthening to 20-25 mph along the East Coast due to the sea breeze. Dry air continues to linger along portions of the Big Bend and the I-75 corridor with relative humidity values dropping near critical thresholds in the afternoon (middle to upper 30%). Sensitive to locally elevated wildfire conditions can be expected to develop by the afternoon due to ongoing warm and dry conditions, along with breezy winds developing. There is a slight chance for isolated showers east of the I-95 corridor and along the coastline, but rainfall will remain light. Onshore winds along the immediate coastlines statewide will allow for relative humidity values to steadily recover and keep them well above critical thresholds. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 39 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 2146 acres.
Drought: High pressure has yielded dry conditions and above normal temperatures nearly statewide over the last week, leading to deteriorating soil moisture and streamflow conditions. Abnormally dry (emerging drought) conditions have expanded along portions of the Central and Southern Peninsula on this week’s drought monitor update and now stretch from the coast to the coast south of I-4 and north of I-75, surrounding and north of Lake Okeechobee. 60-day rainfall deficits have reached 4-6” below normal along eastern portions of Central and South Florida, east and northeast of Lake Okeechobee, with isolated pockets of 6-8” below normal. North and northwest of Lake Okeechobee to the West Coast, 60-day rainfall deficits have reached 2-4” below normal. Little to no rainfall expected across the region over the next week may exacerbate drought conditions.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 300 (+11) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are three Florida counties (Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie) with an average KBDI over 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no risk of flash flooding today.
Riverine Flooding: River Flood Warnings remain in effect along central portions of the Suwannee River following heavy rainfall from the early April severe weather event. Minor riverine flooding continues for the Suwannee River at Branford, Rock Bluff, Wilcox, and Manatee Springs as water levels continue to slowly decline with the help of ongoing dry conditions. Recent, and ongoing, warm and dry conditions will allow for water levels to continue to fall through minor flood stage through the upcoming week, and water levels along the Suwannee River are forecast to fall below flood stage by late next week. The Santa Fe River also continues to experience minor to moderate riverine flooding along the Three Rivers Estates and Hildreth forecast points. Both areas will continue to see water levels decline over the next several days. There are no additional riverine concerns at this time. For more details, please visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 14.32 feet, which is within the operational band and 0.63 feet above normal for this time of year.
