Florida State Watch Office Morning Situation Report for Wednesday, May 20th, 2026

• Lingering areas of patchy fog in the Western Panhandle will quickly dissipate by mid-morning. High pressure over the open Atlantic is continuing to impart easterly to southeasterly flow over the state.
• As a result, Southwest Florida will again carry the highest (50-70%) chances for rain today as easterly flow helps push the East Coast sea breeze inland and towards the West Coast by late morning.
• The Western Panhandle along the Emerald Coast sea breeze will be another favorable area for afternoon showers and thunderstorms today (30-50% chance) where higher moisture air has filtered in.
• While there is no organized risk of severe weather or flash flooding, any of today’s activity could become locally strong and capable of producing frequent lightning, gusty winds (30-50 mph), and locally heavy downpours.
• Rainfall amounts will generally remain below 1”, though localized areas could see upwards of 2-3”.
• Wildfire danger will remain lower today given relative humidities above critical thresholds, though breezy winds are expected throughout the Eastern Peninsula gusting upwards of 20 mph.
• Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today in Southwest Florida and the Western Panhandle which may be accompanied by lightning and gusty/erratic winds that can spark new wildfires or reignite existing ones.
• High temperatures will climb into the upper 80s to middle 90s statewide, with afternoon feels-like temperatures approaching the upper 90s across West-Central and Southwest Florida.
• Tonight, any lingering shower or storm activity will shortly dissipate after sunset.
• Mostly clear and calm conditions will prevail, which will encourage the development of patchy fog throughout the Florida Panhandle, some of which could be locally dense.
• Lows will fall into the upper 60s to middle 70s for much of the state, with upper 70s to lower 80s across the Southeast Metro and Keys.
• A moderate to high risk of rip currents is expected for East Coast and Panhandle beaches.
• According to the Florida Forest Service, there are 67 active wildfires across the state burning approximately 18,504 acres.

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

Morning Situation Report