Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Friday, March 6, 2026
...Another Foggy Morning Gives Way to a Warm Day Throughout the Sunshine State... Mostly Sunny to Partly Cloudy Skies Prevail... Isolated to Widely Scattered Showers to Develop Throughout the State this Afternoon, Mainly Across the Interior Peninsula... A Few Isolated Thunderstorms and Locally Heavy Downpours Possible... Mostly Dry Conditions Prevail Overnight; A Lingering Shower Possible Across the Peninsula... Widespread Fog Expected Throughout North and Central Florida, Some of Which Could Become Locally Dense... High Risk for Rip Currents for All East Coast and Panhandle Beaches...
Updated at 9:35 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Flash Flooding |
Fog (Overnight) |
Rip Currents |
|
Iso. Statewide |
Iso. Northeast FL |
Locally Interior Peninsula Statewide |
Iso. West-Central & Northeast FL |
Panhandle & Big Bend North & Central FL South FL |
East Coast & Panhandle Big Bend West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Areas of patchy dense fog throughout portions of Northeast Florida and the Panhandle will gradually lift and dissipate as the sun continues to rise. Very little change is once again expected today as an area of high pressure just off the local Atlantic waters keeps easterly flow and warm temperatures around. Enough low-level moisture will be around today for the local sea breezes to kick up a few isolated to widely scattered showers throughout the state this afternoon (15-30% chance of rain), with the greatest chance of rain along the East Coast sea-breeze across interior Northeast Florida (30-40% chance of rain). Drier air aloft will continue to limit greater thunderstorm development, though a few locally strong embedded thunderstorms may bring locally heavy downpours, occasional lightning, and gusty winds (35-45 mph). The easterly flow around the area of high pressure will be accompanied by a few breezy wind gusts upwards of 20-25 mph along the East Coast and the Panhandle.
Temperatures will continue to remain well above normal for this time of year, reaching the 80s throughout much of the state. Onshore winds will keep temperatures in the 70s along the coastlines. Feels-like temperatures may approach the lower 90s throughout portions of interior West-Central Florida.
Shower activity from the daytime will begin to dissipate across the Peninsula through the evening and early overnight hours (15-25% chance of rain). Another night of widespread low clouds and fog is expected throughout much of North and interior Central Florida, some of which could become locally dense. Low temperatures will only fall into the lower to middle 60s for North and Central Florida, with upper 60s to lower 70s in South Florida.
Rip Currents: Breezy onshore winds will persist along the Florida East Coast keeping a high risk for rip currents in place for all beaches. Onshore winds will also increase for all Panhandle beaches, bringing a return of a high risk. A low risk is expected for all West Coast beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Onshore winds will continue to push ocean swells of 3-4’ towards the Florida East Coast and through the Atlantic-facing Key beaches today. Majority of the Gulf and West Coast can expect wave heights near 1’ with the Panhandle reaching upwards of 2-3’ later this afternoon.
Red Tide was observed at background conditions in two samples from Bay County. It was not observed along the Florida East Coast or Southwest Florida (valid 2/27/2026).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding today.
Fire Weather: Foggy conditions and low clouds, some of which has become locally dense, has developed throughout portions of Northeast Florida and the Panhandle this morning. This fog will begin to slowly lift and dissipate through the morning hours. Low-level moisture and onshore winds will help to keep relative humidity values above critical thresholds across the state today, with the driest conditions across interior North Florida. Winds will generally remain light today near 5-10 mph, with stronger winds upwards of 15 mph along the immediate Florida East Coast. Wind gusts will reach near 15-25 mph across the state with the strongest gusts throughout Southeast Florida. Scattered showers and a few isolated thunderstorms may develop this afternoon across the Peninsula, some of which could be accompanied by lightning and gusty winds. Lightning strikes can spark new fires or reignite existing fires. Another round of patchy to widespread fog will be possible throughout North and Central Florida early Saturday morning, with instances of locally dense fog possible. Foggy conditions and low clouds will further reduce visibilities where there are ongoing wildfires. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 67 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 4,385 acres.
Drought (3/5/26): The cold front that swept through the state last weekend (2/27-2/28) brought some “beneficial” rains to portions of the state, yet totals were still not enough to provide any real relief or alleviation to the ongoing long-term drought that has stricken Florida. The heaviest totals were found across the Panhandle and in pockets throughout Central Florida, generally upwards of 2-2.5” or so. However, other portions of the state, such as interior South Florida, saw negligible rainfall. This was reflected in the latest Drought Monitor update this week where the previous severe drought has been upgraded to an extreme drought (level 3 of 4) across the remainder of Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties. As such, all Southwest Florida is now under the extreme drought category as 90-day rainfall departures remain at 3-5” below normal. Elsewhere, no significant changes were made to the Drought Monitor this week. An extreme drought (level 3 of 4) persists across nearly all North Florida, outside of the western Panhandle that remains under a moderate (level 1 of 4) to severe (level 2 of 4) drought. The largest rainfall departures in the past 3 months of 5-7” below normal is found across North Florida where streamflows remain well below normal, recreational and agricultural impacts have worsened, and brush wildfires continue to remain a concern. A moderate drought (level 1 of 4) remains across much of the I-4 corridor where locally heavier rains have fallen in the past few months. The extreme drought conditions have brought increasing wildfire conditions as well, especially throughout South Florida where a few large wildfires have broken out (i.e. the National Wildfire burning nearly 35,000 acres). As of this update, 100% of the land across Florida remains within a category of drought and 70% of the state under an extreme drought (level 3 of 4). The rainfall forecast through the next week does not look promising for any improvements to the drought. A few isolated showers or embedded thunderstorms could bring pockets of heavier rainfall to portions of the Peninsula as the local sea breezes begin to wake up amidst warmer temperatures, though widespread drenching rains are not expected.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 487 (+7) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 31 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no organized risk for flash flooding today. Isolated to widely scattered showers and embedded thunderstorms are expected throughout portions of the interior Peninsula and along the West-Central Florida coastline this afternoon. Although conditions will remain dry for most, a few locally heavy downpours could lead to pockets of localized totals upwards of 1-2”.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 12.27 feet, which is within the operational band and is 2.23 feet below normal for this time of year.
