Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Saturday, January 24, 2026
...Gradual Warming Trend Continues... A Few Showers Expected to Develop this Afternoon Across South Florida... A Few Locally Strong Showers with Heavy Downpours Are Possible... Spotty Rainfall Chances this Morning Across Panhandle... Scattered Showers Develop This Evening and Overnight Across the Western Panhandle... Areas of Fog and Low Clouds Possible Tonight, Particularly for West Florida...Moderate to High Risk of Rip Currents for Most East Coast Beaches, Moderate Risk Continues for Florida Panhandle...Low Wildfire Threat Maintained Statewide...
Updated at 8:33 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Fog (Overnight) |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Flash Flooding |
Rip Currents |
| Iso. Southeast FL |
Statewide |
Locally West-Central & Southwest FL Elsewhere |
Metro & Coastal Southeast Florida |
East Coast Florida Panhandle & Southeast FL West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Areas of patchy dense fog have developed across East-Central Florida this morning and will slowly dissipate by mid-morning. Otherwise, another mostly dry day is expected across the state. With warmer temperatures expected, the sea breezes across South Florida will reawaken this afternoon and push inland, which may promote a few isolated to widely scattered showers to develop (15-30% chance of rain). While widespread activity is not expected, some of this activity could be locally strong, slow moving, and lead to localized nuisance flooding and ponding of water, especially in urban and poor drainage locations. A few light coastal showers will remain pinned along the East Coast this afternoon as well, however activity is expected to remain confined to the coastal waters or east of the I-95 corridor (near 15% chance of rain). A few isolated showers may also develop across the far western Panhandle by the evening hours ahead of the next frontal system (20-30% chance of rain). Breezy winds with gusts upwards of 30 mph are possible this afternoon along the Northeast Florida coastline.
The warming trend will continue across the Sunshine State today as warm southerly flow increases ahead of our next frontal system. Afternoon temperatures will trend above normal for this time of year, especially across Central and South Florida which will find itself on the southern side of a stationary front draped across North Florida. Highs will climb into the middle 70s to lower 80s throughout Central and South Florida, while North Florida will be cooler with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. A few locations across South Florida could reach the middle to upper 80s this afternoon.
Temperatures continue to moderate tonight, with lows in the middle 50s to lower 60s across North Florida and lower to upper 60s throughout Central and South Florida. A few showers may linger into the evening across South Florida, though will quickly dissipate before midnight (15-25% chance of rain). Scattered showers will begin to spread across the western Panhandle late this evening and overnight (40-60% chance of rain). Moist southerly flow ahead of our next cold front will usher in plenty of Gulf moisture for additional fog and low cloud development by daybreak Sunday across the Big Bend, West-Central Florida, and Southwest Florida, some of which could be locally dense.
Rip Currents: There is a moderate to high risk of rip currents for all Florida East Coast beaches today due to onshore winds and lingering elevated surf. A moderate risk of rip currents continues for many Florida Panhandle beaches, with a low risk persisting along the Florida West Coast. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Wave heights will remain a bit elevated along the Florida East Coast today, with surf of 2-4’ expected for Northeast and East-Central beaches. Locally higher waves upwards of 5’ cannot be ruled out along portions of the First Coast. Elsewhere, wave heights of 1-2’ can be expected. Waves will increase overnight to 2-4’ for all Panhandle beaches and 3-5’ for the First Coast.
Red Tide was observed at background concentrations in Bay and Franklin counties and very low concentrations in Walton and Gulf County. It was not observed along the East Coast or in Southwest Florida (valid 1/23/2026).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding across Florida.
Fire Weather: Relative humidity values will remain well above critical thresholds today, courtesy of moist southerly flow ahead of our next frontal system. The overall wildfire threat today will remain low with winds generally low, however a few gusts upwards of 20 mph cannot be ruled out across the state this afternoon. With expanding drought and long-term dry conditions, locally sensitive wildfire conditions continue in the forecast this afternoon. Areas of fog and low clouds may develop tonight, leading to further reductions in visibility near or around any ongoing wildfires or burns. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 31 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 974 acres.
Drought (1/22/26): Light precipitation was observed across Florida over the past 7 days, with portions of the interior Florida Panhandle receiving precipitation as snowfall! However, rain and snow totals of 0.25 to 1” were insufficient to produce meaningful drought improvement. Rainfall totals continue to trend below for this time of year, both in the middle to long-range guidance, and streamflows across North Florida remain below low-flow thresholds. As a result, expansions of both moderate (level 1 of 4) and severe (level 2 of 4) drought were observed throughout the Sunshine State, particularly for the Florida Big and areas south of the I-4 corridor. Extreme drought (level 3 of 4) persists over the interior eastern Florida Panhandle and Big Bend as 60-day rainfall deficits continue to run at 2-3.5” below normal for this time of year. This now brings over 92% of the state is under a moderate drought (level 1 of 4) or worse on this week’s Drought Monitor update.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 476 (+4) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 32 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no organized risk for flash flooding today. Rainfall rates will be the primary trend to monitor as shower and thunderstorm activity will be slow-moving across South Florida this afternoon and evening as activity develops along the sea breezes. The main forecast uncertainty is how far inland rain activity may advance versus remain just offshore within the coastal zones, as well as how widespread the activity becomes. Should heavier rainfall move onshore, minor street flooding and ponding water cannot be ruled out across South Florida. Localized rainfall totals in excess of 3” are possible.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 13.00 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.70 feet below normal for this time of year.
