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Florida State Watch Office Morning Situation Report for Saturday, April 18, 2026

Florida Division of Emergency Management sent this bulletin at 04/18/2026 10:02 AM EDT

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Florida State Watch Office Morning Situation Report

EOC Activation Level: Level 2

Meteorological Summary:

Any areas of patchy fog across North and Central Florida will quickly dissipate as the sun rises this morning.
High pressure will continue to dominate the local pattern today keeping sunny and dry conditions in place nearly statewide.
A very isolated sea breeze shower cannot be ruled out across interior Southwest Florida this afternoon (15-20% chance of rain), though any activity will be light and brief in nature.
The start to what will be a multi-day stretch of elevated wildfire conditions is expected to begin today across the Panhandle, Big Bend, and Northeast Florida.
Winds will increase this afternoon to 10-15 mph, with gusts upwards of 20-25 mph. Relative humidities will also dip to near critical thresholds (25-35%) in an area experiencing extreme to exceptional drought (level 3-4 of 4).

As a result, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for interior portions of the Big Bend today where critical wildfire danger is expected.

High temperatures will also reach near record warmth across much of North Florida this afternoon, climbing into the upper 80s to middle 90s. Highs throughout the Peninsula will reach the middle 80s to lower 90s, with cooler conditions along the East Coast.
Relative humidities will quickly recover after sunset throughout North Florida with areas of patchy fog development possible across the Big Bend, Nature Coast, and Suwannee River Valley.
A cold front with isolated showers ahead of it will begin to approach the western Panhandle shortly after midnight (15-20% chance of rain).
Low temperatures will fall into the 60s throughout much of the state, with lower to middle 70s across coastal Southeast Florida and the Keys.
A moderate risk for rip currents is expected for Panhandle and East Coast beaches today.

To view the complete Morning Situation Report, please select the link below.

Morning Situation Report

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