textproduct: Miami - South Florida

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 145 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

- Hazardous marine conditions continue for all South FL waters.

- A high risk of rip currents will continue through the weekend for the east coast beaches.

- Temperatures continue to gradually warm up through the end of the work week and into the upcoming weekend.

SHORT TERM

(Rest of today through Friday) Issued at 145 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

The dense and dreary cloud cover that stole the sun away from South Florida the last couple of days has finally moved off into the Caribbean. Surface high pressure will build over the northern Gulf waters through the next several days, allowing for drier and sunnier conditions across the peninsula. However, as shortwave energy associated with a mid level trough pushes across the state, forcing aloft will still allow for a low chance (25-35%) of showers to develop this evening along the Atlantic coast. Isolated shower activity looks to work its way southward overnight from Palm Beach County towards Dade, before chances decrease to near zero once at sunrise on Friday.

Breezy northerly winds will be the most noticeable weather for this afternoon, between 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. These breezy conditions will continue to create some elevated surf, so the Small Craft Advisory has been extended through tonight for Gulf waters and through Friday evening for the Atlantic. Wind speeds begin to taper off Friday evening as the mid-level trough slides off to the east and high pressure over the gulf begins to slide over the Florida peninsula. High Rip Current Risk will persist through the beginning of the weekend along the Atlantic waters.

While there will still be some scattered to broken mid and upper level cloud cover this afternoon, the increased sunshine should allow for high temperatures to climb 5 to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday's readings. The warming trend will continue into Friday, particularly for southwest Florida, where northeasterly peninsular flow should aid in warming high temperatures into the low 80s. Lows will be near normal in the mid 50s through low 60s.

LONG TERM

(Friday night through next Wednesday) Issued at 145 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Warm and dry conditions are expected across Florida through the beginning of next week as riding takes a foothold over Gulf waters. Subsidence over the region will keep precipitation chances near zero and skies mostly clear. Winds will be mostly light and variable, with typical diurnal see breeze wind regimes along the coasts. This pattern will also allow for the temperatures to continue trending up each day, with highs climbing into the upper 80s for interior parts of South Florida on Monday and Tuesday.

Chances for precipitation return for the middle of the week as a backdoor front (associated with a shortwave impulse over the Great Lakes) pushes through the southeast CONUS. This looks to reestablish a more moist easterly wind regime over the region. PoPs are currently around 30% across the area for Wednesday, but with another shortwave pushing through the southern Appalachians, would not be surprised to see chances for showers rise for the middle to end of the week.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 145 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR expected across all sites, but some scattered lower ceilings are forecast. Breezy northerly winds of 10 to 15 kts with gusts up to 25 kts throughout the afternoon and evening. Winds will lighten up slightly overnight, but breezy conditions return once again late tomorrow morning.

MARINE

Issued at 403 AM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Robust NNE winds and elevated seas will continue over the Atlantic waters through Friday evening. The Gulf waters will also remain hazardous until late this morning. Seas in the Atlantic 5-9 ft, and 3-6 ft in the Gulf. Occasional thunderstorms are possible today in the Atlantic waters.

BEACHES

Issued at 403 AM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

A persisting N/NE swell will keep a high risk of rip currents for the Atlantic beaches through at least Saturday.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Miami 63 75 62 79 / 30 30 10 0 West Kendall 59 78 57 81 / 30 20 10 0 Opa-Locka 62 76 61 80 / 30 30 10 0 Homestead 63 77 61 79 / 30 20 10 10 Fort Lauderdale 64 74 64 77 / 40 30 10 0 N Ft Lauderdale 64 74 63 77 / 40 30 10 0 Pembroke Pines 63 77 62 80 / 40 30 10 0 West Palm Beach 62 74 61 78 / 50 30 10 0 Boca Raton 63 74 62 78 / 50 40 10 0 Naples 58 81 58 81 / 0 0 0 0

MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

FL...High Rip Current Risk through Sunday evening for FLZ168.

High Rip Current Risk through Saturday evening for FLZ172-173.

AM...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Friday for AMZ630.

Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Friday for AMZ650-651-670- 671.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Friday for GMZ656-657-676.