Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
...High Pressure Settles Over the State Today Bringing Sunny and Dry Conditions... A Few Light Coastal Showers Possible Across Coastal Southeast Florida... Breezy Winds Upwards of 30 mph for South Florida... Unseasonably Warm Stretch of Weather Begins Today Across North Florida... Instances of Patchy Dense Fog Possible Across the Panhandle and Big Bend Overnight... Moderate to High Risk for Rip Currents for Panhandle and East Coast Beaches...
Updated at 09:37 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 |
Locally Panhandle & Big Bend Statewide |
East Coast Panhandle West Coast |
Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:
High pressure will continue to dominate the local weather pattern 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 30 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 and upper 70s to lower 80s 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 Wednesday morning. Locally dense fog cannot be ruled out, especially across the Panhandle and Big Bend and Dense Fog Advisories may be issued if conditions warrant tonight. Winds will generally subside across South Florida overnight, though a few wind gusts upwards of 25 mph will be possible across the Florida Keys.
Low temperatures will dip into the lower to middle 50s across much of the state tonight, as far south as interior South Florida. However, 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 today with some lingering ocean swells and onshore winds. The breeziest onshore winds will remain along the East Coast today 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 will begin to slowly diminish along the East Coast today in the wake of the breezy winds earlier this week. Surf of 4-6’ is expected for most beaches, with Southeast Florida beaches seeing wave heights of 6-8’. These waves will further subside overnight, with surf of 2-4’ expected for all East Coast beaches. Panhandle and West Coast beaches can expect surf around 1-2’ today and tonight.
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 mostly dry day is on tap for the Sunshine State outside of coastal Southeast Florida where a few coastal showers are 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 the southern Peninsula where wind gusts upwards of 30 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 26 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 227 acres.
Drought (12/18): Plentiful rainfall of 3-6 inches has fallen over much of the Panhandle over the past two weeks which has allowed for some modest relief in the long-term drought conditions, outlined in this week’s latest Drought Monitor outlook. West of SR 231, any severe drought from last week’s outlook has been reduced to a Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) where the heaviest rainfall has fallen. A Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) is still in place across the Big Bend region, though has been reduced back to a Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) over the I-10 corridor across Northeast Florida and the Suwannee Valley. Extreme Drought (level 3 of 4) remains in place across northern Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson counties where 2-4 inch rainfall totals have fallen in the past two weeks, with parts of Jackson, Calhoun, and Madison counties reduced to a Severe Drought (level 2 of 4). However, 60-90 day rainfall departures remain below normal (3-5 inches below normal) over all North Florida which has kept at least some drought category in place despite the recent rainfall. On the contrary, rainfall has been harder to come by across West-Central Florida near the Tampa Bay metro where a Severe Drought (level 2 of 4) has been slightly expanded to include more of Hardee and DeSoto counties. Here, 3-month rainfall departures have begun to near 7 inches in some localized areas. A Moderate Drought (level 1 of 4) remains in place across nearly all South Florida south of Lake Okeechobee, with abnormally dry (emerging drought) conditions in place along coastal Southeast Florida. Additional rainfall is expected on Thursday (12/18) across the Panhandle which may lead to additional drought relief, though will be reflected in the next week’s outlook. Dry and warm conditions will return across the state this weekend and early next week, which may bring additional drought deterioration, especially over Central and South Florida.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida is 431 (+4) on a scale from 0 (very wet) to 800 (very dry). There are 23 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.
