Current Weather Outlook

Weather Summary for the Next 24 Hours:

Numerous showers and thunderstorms are ongoing across North Florida this morning. Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms will develop throughout the day along the I-10 corridor as another soggy day is expected. In Central and South Florida, scattered thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon and evening. Showers and thunderstorms will continue overnight in the Panhandle and Big Bend, while becoming more isolated in the Peninsula.

Widespread or significant severe weather is not expected today, but a few thunderstorms in North Florida could produce a damaging wind gust from 45-60 mph. The Storm Prediction Center has the area under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe weather today.

Heavy rainfall will be the biggest threat today, with any thunderstorms able to produce a quick 1-3” and localized totals by the end of the day of 4-6” across North Florida. Isolated flash flooding and street flooding should be expected by the afternoon and evening.

The heat index in Central and South Florida will range from 95-105 degrees this afternoon.

Claudette dissipated overnight and the National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a small tropical wave a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles. This tropical wave has a 30% (low) chance of development over the next few days before is moves into a hostile environment in the Caribbean. This system poses no threat to Florida over the next 5 days, if at all. For the latest on the tropics, visit the National Hurricane Center at www.hurricanes.gov.

Flash Flooding: Locally heavy rainfall will be possible in any thunderstorms today, but the Panhandle will be most susceptible to flash flooding/urban street flooding given the heavy rainfall over the weekend. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until Thursday morning for the Panhandle and Big Bend, where a widespread 1-3” of rain is forecast today with locally 4-6”.

Hydrology: A few rivers across the Panhandle have reached Action Stage (bank-full) and many rivers will continue to rise to Action Stage from last weekend’s rainfall. All rivers are forecast to remain below flood stage at this time, even with today's forecast rainfall. For more details on specific river levels, please visit the River Forecast Center.

Coastal Flooding: Tides in the Panhandle/Big Bend are running 1-1.5’ above normal and may result in nuisance flooding at high tide.

Lake Okeechobee’s average elevation is 12.57 feet, which is 0.66 feet below normal for this time of year. Pulse releases continue down the Caloosahatchee and to the south of the lake.

Rip Currents: Residual swells will result in a high rip current risk for the Panhandle. East Central Florida and Northeast Florida beaches will have a moderate risk of rip currents. Wave heights will be 2-3’ statewide. For the latest Rip Current Outlook, visit www.weather.gov/beach.

Marine Hazards: A patchy bloom of Red Tide continues in and around Tampa Bay. Medium to high concentrations have been observed along the coasts of Hillsborough, Manatee, & Pinellas with low to medium concentrations in Charlotte County. Reports of respiratory irritation and fish kills continue at local beaches.

Fire Weather: High rain chances today and recent rainfall will keep the wildfire threat low across North and Central Florida. In South Florida, lower rain chances, high temperatures, and ongoing drought will result in a moderate wildfire threat this afternoon. Humidity will remain above critical levels across the state (>45%) with winds outside of thunderstorms less than 15 mph. Lightning could ignite new wildfires and winds near thunderstorms could be gusty and erratic.

Burn bans are in effect for Collier, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota County.

There are currently 15 active wildfires across the state, 12 of which are 100% contained. The uncontained fires have a total acreage of only 184 acres.