Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
... Elevated Wildfire Conditions Persist For Much of the State with Critically Low Relative Humidities and Ongoing Drought... Sunny and Mostly Dry Conditions Prevail...Patchy Fog Possible Again Tonight ... High Risk for Rip Currents for most East Coast Beaches...
Updated at 9:27 AM EDT
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Excessive Heat |
Flash Flooding |
Fog (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
|
FL Keys, Panhandle |
Locally Central FL Rest of State |
|
|
Inland Central FL |
East Coast Panhandle Coast West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
High pressure will move further northeast away from Florida today, allowing for slightly less breezy winds across the Peninsula. However, local enhancement of gusty northeast winds are expected with the afternoon sea breeze, particularly south of Interstate 4. With the lowest afternoon relative humidities expected across Southwest Florida, fire weather potential will be greatest in these areas. With the afternoon sea breeze, an isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible across far southern Florida near the Keys.
Dry conditions during the daytime and evening hours are expected across North Florida. Overnight, a cluster of thunderstorms is expected to approach the Western Florida Panhandle. While these storms should be weakening as they approach, there is some potential for a lightning and damaging wind risk before the storms dissipate by daybreak.
Statewide, temperatures will be warm with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Heat indices will be mitigated by the strong east coast sea breeze and then the lower relative humidities along the western side of the state.
The strong northeasterly flow will create high surf along the Florida East Coast, mainly north of West Palm Beach. A high risk of rip currents is also forecast for this area Monday afternoon.
Increased moisture levels after sunset will support patchy fog development across interior Central Florida, especially along Interstate 4. This fog, if mixed with smoke from nearby wildfires, could result in isolated pockets of highly reduced visibility on roadways.
Rip Currents: Breezy northeast winds and long period swells will lead to a high risk for rip currents along the Florida East Coast beaches from West Palm Beach northward. A moderate risk is for Panhandle and southeast Florida beaches with a low risk for western Florida beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Increased surf heights of 3-5 feet with isolated 6 foot breakers is expected along the east coast north of West Palm Beach. 2 to 3 foot surf is expected elsewhere.
Red Tide was observed at background concentrations offshore Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Santa Rosa counties (valid 4/24/26) .
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding today.
Fire Weather:
Elevated wildfire conditions will persist today statewide despite the increased chances for rain and relative humidity values. Relative humidity values in the 33-45% range across the Western Florida Peninsula combined with northeast to east winds of 5-10 mph and gusts to 20 mph in the afternoon will still hamper some containment efforts and allow new fires to start. Any thunderstorms that develop in the afternoon, mainly in region 10, could contain occasional lightning strikes which can spark new wildfires or reignite existing ones. Tonight, areas of patchy fog may develop across interior Central Florida which can significantly reduce visibilities in the vicinity of active wildfires. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 102 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 15,587 acres.
Drought (4/23/26): A severe to extreme drought (level 2-3 of 4) is still observed throughout most of South Florida. Across Central Florida, some slight expansion of the extreme drought (level 3 of 4) was added across Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties. In North Florida, the exceptional drought (level 4 of 4) was expanded westward into Jackson County as well as a bit more eastward into Alachua, Levy, Bradford, Baker, and Nassau counties. Much of the western Panhandle is also now under an extreme drought (level 3 of 4). Rainfall deficits since the beginning of the water year (October 2025) are running 10-15 inches below normal or more across the entirety of North Florida. This has resulted in extremely low streamflows within all river basins, streams, lakes, and ponds. Looking ahead, isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible this weekend, however, the spotty nature of this activity will make it unable to provide much drought relief, though any rainfall will certainly be helpful.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 528 (+5) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 48 out of 67 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. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will develop along the sea breezes across South-Central Florida this afternoon. Most of this activity will be light and brief in nature, though a locally heavy downpour capable of producing a quick 1-3” of rain cannot be ruled out.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 11.87 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.94 feet below normal for this time of year.
