Prepare and Stay
Aware!
Current Situation and Weather Update
Squall Line of Strong Thunderstorms Traverses the Florida Peninsula Today...High Surf Advisory in Effect Along Portions of the Panhandle Coast...Elevated Risk of Rip Currents Expected at Gulf Coast Beaches...Cooler and Drier Air Moves Into the State Tonight...
Updated 8:25 AM EST Wednesday
A cold front, with a preceding thin squall line of showers and thunderstorms, is forecast to move through the far eastern Big Bend and Northeast Florida Peninsula this morning before moving into the central Florida Peninsula during the afternoon hours and then through South Florida this evening and tonight. The intensity of the squall line is expected to decrease as it moves southeast through the morning hours. With this weakening trend, the threat for severe weather will also subside. However, a few strong storms may be possible containing gusty winds to 50mph, brief heavy rainfall and occasional lightning strikes. Otherwise, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected. Lingering isolated showers near the actual front, behind the squall line, will also move east across the state, but the bulk of the precipitation will be near the pre-frontal squall line. Cloud cover will also decrease behind the front as high pressure moves in from the west, with skies clearing across North Florida during the afternoon and clearing across Central and South Florida during the overnight hours.
To access the latest weather alerts, advisories, warnings for your county, please click here.
Winds will be breezy both ahead of the front and behind the front today. Southwest winds of 10- 15mph are expected ahead of the front today. Winds will switch to the west behind the front and will remain strong around 15-20mph. Winds could gust to 25-35mph statewide today and a Lake Wind Advisory is in effect for the eastern Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, as well as much of the Florida Peninsula north of Lake Okeechobee, through early this evening. Winds are then expected to decrease tonight as high pressure moves into the state.
The strong west to southwest winds will create large and dangerous surf along Gulf Coast beaches today. The surf will be especially high along west facing beaches in the Florida Panhandle and a High Surf Advisory is in effect until 7pm tonight for Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin Counties. The large waves and strong winds will also increase the threat for strong rip currents. A high risk of rip currents is forecast for Panhandle and Big Bend beaches today, with a moderate risk of rip currents forecast for the West Central and Southwest Florida coast.
A drier and cooler airmass will move into the region behind the front today and tonight. The drier air could elevate the wildfire risk and a Fire Weather Watch is in effect for East Central Florida, the Florida Big Bend and inland portions of the eastern Florida Panhandle for expected long duration of critically low humidity values on Thursday.
Floridians and visitors to the state are urged to use caution when conducting outdoor activities, as moderate drought conditions are forecast to continue or develop across much of the Florida Peninsula. The holiday season is an excellent time to ensure that your home and community are Firewise.
| Lake Wind Advisory - Inland Walton (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Inland Walton (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| High Surf Advisory - Coastal Walton (Florida) COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T09:15:00 Expired At: 2009-01-08T00:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Lake Wind Advisory - Coastal Walton (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Coastal Walton (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Holmes (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-08T22:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Lake Wind Advisory - Holmes (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Holmes (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Washington (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-08T22:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Lake Wind Advisory - Washington (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Washington (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Jackson (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-08T22:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Lake Wind Advisory - Jackson (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Jackson (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| High Surf Advisory - Bay (Florida) COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T09:15:00 Expired At: 2009-01-08T00:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Lake Wind Advisory - Bay (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Bay (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Calhoun (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-08T22:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Lake Wind Advisory - Calhoun (Florida) URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-01-07T18:36:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
| Red Flag Warning - Calhoun (Florida) RED FLAG WARNING Issued At: 2009-01-07T20:20:00 Expired At: 2009-01-07T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/ |
National Weather Service
2009 Kids Weather Survival Week Contests Underway
Essays due January 20 – Posters due January 23
The 2009 Kids Weather Survival Week poster and essay contests are now underway and Florida Emergency Management officials, in partnership with Radio Disney, are urging all eligible students to participate this year. The annual awareness week is scheduled for FEBRUARY 1 - 7, 2009 with the kickoff media event and contest award ceremonies to be held at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Visa beginning on Saturday, January 31, 2009.
Read Full Article About Kids Weather Survival Week Contests Underway
Poster Contest
Fourth and fifth graders in all 67 school districts are invited to participate in the statewide poster contest. Posters must be postmarked on or before FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009 and must arrive at the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in Tallahassee no later than Monday, January 26, 2009. For complete contest information please visit: http://redcross.tallytown.org.
Essay Contest
High school students in all 67 school districts are invited to participate in the statewide essay contest. "Tell us your story of how having a plan in place beforehand helped you, your family, and your pets survive the disaster." All entries must be electronically submitted no later than TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009. For complete contest information please visit the Just Read, Florida! website at: http://www.justreadflorida.com/hwaw/EssayContest.asp.
Read Full Article About Kids Weather Survival Week, Contests and Prizes
Florida Emergency Management Launches Daily Reports on YouTube
Beginning today residents and emergency officials can now receive daily situation reports produced by the Florida Division of Emergency Management online via the worldwide web service YouTube, keywords: “Florida SERT” available at http://www.youtube.com/FloridaSERT.
Read Full Article About Florida Emergency Management Videos on YouTube
State Hazard Mitigation Plan Advisory Team (SHMPAT) Meeting
The next meeting of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan Advisory Team is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 2009, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM.
Capital Circle Office Center
Sadowski Building, Room 305
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Cooler Temperatures Raise Wildfire Threat - Are You Firewise?
As cool, dry weather returns to the state, so does the threat for wildfires. Are you Firewise?
To learn more on how you can protect your loved ones and property go to: Firewise.org
2009 Department of Homeland Security Emergency
Operation Center Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that a total of $12,357,500 is available for nationally competitive grants to eligible state, local and tribal governments for construction or renovation of their principal Emergency Operation Centers (EOC). The FY 2009 EOC Grant Program funds may only be expended for EOC construction and renovation costs. There is a 25 percent cost share cash or in-kind match requirement. The Division of Emergency Management as State Administrative Agency (SAA) will apply on behalf of eligible applicants. Justifications are due to the Division by no later than 11:59 PM EST, February 6, 2009. Please see attached documents for details.
The Division’s contacts are Ms. Tina Quick at 850-413-9974 or e-mail: tina.quick@em.myflorida.com and Mr. Danny Kilcollins at 850-413-9859 or e-mail: danny.kilcollins@em.myflorida.com.
Information Bulletin
2009 Overview
2009 Guidance and Application Kit
Frequently Asked Questions
Hurricane Season Recovery
Tropical Storm Fay Recovery Continues Into 2009
More Than $50 Million in Assistance to People, Businesses and Communities
State and federal partners continue to provide recovery assistance to those impacted by Tropical Storm Fay.
More than $50 million in assistance has flowed into the hands of people, businesses and communities in 27 Florida counties since the storm struck last August. Ultimately, 18,815 people registered for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT).Read Full Article About Funds Flow Into 2009
Check the latest situation report on Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Ike.
Details on Tropical Storm Fay Recovery
Details on Hurricane Gustav Recovery
Florida Nonprofits Encouraged To Apply For Security Grants
Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville
urban areas eligible
Non-profit organizations in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville may be eligible to apply for funds as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This year, the NSGP program will provide more than $15 million nationwide to strengthen the security of nonprofit organizations that are deemed at high risk of a potential terrorist attack and are located within one of the specific UASI-eligible urban areas.
Nonprofit, 501(c) (3) organizations that are at deemed high risk of a potential terrorist attack and are located within one of the specific FY08 UASI-eligible Urban Areas are eligible to submit applications through the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) electronically at: tina.quick@em.myflorida.com no later than Tuesday, January 13, 2009.
Read More About the Security Grants Release
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Justification Template
NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Updated:
January 6, 2009 17:15
