Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
...Dense Fog this Morning Gives Way to Sunny and Dry Conditions as High Pressure Dominates... A Few Light Coastal Showers Possible Across Coastal Southeast Florida... Breezy Winds Upwards of 20 mph for Coastal Southeast Florida... Unseasonably Warm Temperatures Across North Florida... Patchy Dense Fog Likely Across the Panhandle and Big Bend Overnight... Moderate to High Risk for Rip Currents for Panhandle and East Coast Beaches...
Updated at 09:09 AM EST
Today's Threats:
|
No Threat |
Low Threat |
Medium Threat |
High Threat |
|
Lightning |
Tornado |
Damaging Wind/Hail |
Wildfire |
Freeze (Overnight) |
Fog (Overnight) |
Coastal Flooding |
Rip Currents |
|
Locally North & West-Central FL |
Panhandle & Big Bend North & Central FL Locally South FL |
Southeast FL Panhandle & East Coast West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
Dense Fog has developed across much of the Panhandle and Big Bend this morning and will linger through the mid-morning hours before dissipating. Dense Fog Advisories will remain in effect until mid to late this morning for land areas, with some sea fog persisting along the local Panhandle waters through the day. Otherwise, high pressure will continue to dominate the local pattern today bringing sunny and dry conditions. A slight chance of an isolated shower or brief sprinkle exists across coastal Southeast Florida today (15-20% chance of rain) aided by breezy winds gusts upwards of 20 mph that may bring them ashore off the Atlantic. Warm and dry conditions will continue to worsen drought conditions which may lead to locally sensitive wildfire conditions across much of the state today, despite relative humidities remaining above critical thresholds.
High temperatures will climb into the middle to upper 70s across North Florida this afternoon, with a few lower 80s possible. Upper 70s to lower 80s can be expected in Central and South Florida.
Clear and calm conditions will prevail overnight outside of a few lingering sprinkles across coastal Southeast Florida (15-20% chance of rain). Lingering low-level moisture and warmer temperatures will promote low cloud and patchy fog development overnight and towards daybreak Thursday morning. Locally dense fog is likely to develop across the Panhandle and Big Bend and Dense Fog Advisories will be issued as conditions warrant tonight. Please exercise caution if traveling overnight in areas of dense fog, which can reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile.
Low temperatures will dip into the lower to middle 50s across much of the state tonight, as far south as Lake Okeechobee. Lows will only reach the middle 60s to lower 70s across coastal Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys.
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30.
For the latest on the tropics, please visit the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at www.hurricanes.gov.
Rip Currents: A moderate risk for rip currents can be expected for all Panhandle beaches and most East Coast beaches today with some lingering ocean swells and onshore winds. The breeziest onshore winds will remain along the Southeast Florida coastline where a high risk for rip currents is expected. A low risk is expected for all West Coast beaches. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.
Marine Hazards: Surf of 2-4’ can be expected for all East Coast beaches today, with a few waves upwards of 5’ in the surf zone along the Treasure Coast. Panhandle and West Coast beaches will see waves of 1-2’.
Red Tide was observed at background to medium concentrations in Bay County, very low to low concentrations in Gulf County, and background to very low concentrations in Franklin County. Across Southwest Florida, it was also observed at background concentrations offshore Hillsborough, Manatee, and Monroe counties. Red Tide was not observed along the Florida East Coast (valid 12/19).
Coastal Flooding: There is no risk for coastal flooding across Florida.
Fire Weather: Another dry day is on tap for the Sunshine State outside of coastal Southeast Florida where a brief sprinkle or coastal shower is possible. Despite relative humidities remaining above critical thresholds, warm and dry conditions will continue to promote locally sensitive wildfire conditions, especially in areas experiencing the worst long-term drought. Another day of breezy winds are expected across Southeast Florida where wind gusts upwards of 20 mph may lead to increased wildfire spread over any active wildfires. Additionally, patchy fog and low clouds may develop across the Big Bend and Suwannee River Valley tonight which can reduce visibilities further in any active fire regions. According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 23 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 214 acres.
Drought (12/24): Over the past two weeks, much of the Florida Peninsula has seen little in the way of rainfall outside of immediate coastal Southeast Florida where rainfall totals have only added up to 1-2”. As such, drought has expanded for parts of South and Central Florida on this weeks latest Drought Monitor outlook. A Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) has been expanded north of Lake Okeechobee to include all of Highlands, Okeechobee, and interior Martin and St. Lucie counties. Over the last two weeks, these areas have seen nearly zero rainfall which has been exacerbated by warmer than normal temperatures for this time of year. A similar story is ongoing along coastal West-Central Florida where the Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) has also been expanded to include all interior Hardee and DeSoto counties, as well as southwest Polk county. The long-term (60 to 90 day) drought in these areas continues to worsen, with many areas between 6-8” below normal rainfall over the past two to three months. The Nature Coast has also seen a lack of rainfall in the long-term, with coastal Levy, Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties under a Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) with rainfall departures around 3-4” below normal over the past 2 months. Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) has also been expanded away from the coast to include the interior counties of Sumter, Marion, and Putnam in Northeast Florida where similar rainfall departures over the past 2-3 months are found. Abnormally dry (emerging drought) has been introduced too all East-Central Florida, bringing 99% of the entire state of Florida under at least some classification of drought. Across North Florida and the Panhandle, very little changes were made to this week’s outlook. An Extreme Drought (level 3 of 4) remains in place over Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties with a Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) surrounding that. A Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) occupies the rest of the I-10 corridor across the Panhandle and Northeast Florida. Very little meaningful rainfall is expected over the next week which will likely bring persistence, or worsening, drought levels on next weeks outlook. Although some water levels improved from recent rainfall over North Florida, dry conditions will begin to bring those back down slowly below normal levels.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 436 (+5) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 24 Florida counties that have an average KBDI above 500 (drought/increased fire danger).
Flash Flooding: There is no organized risk for flash flooding today. A few light sprinkles or brief showers are possible along coastal Southeast Florida, though rainfall totals will be meager at best.
Riverine Flooding: There are no riverine concerns across Florida. For more information, visit the River Forecast Center.
Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 13.50 feet, which is within the operational band and is 1.18 feet below normal for this time of year.
