Florida Weather Radar

Florida Live Weather

Florida Live Weather Radar

Click to toggle between the Florida cloud cover radar map and the Florida precipitation radar map.

Florida Hourly Weather Forecast

Florida 7-Day Weather Forecast

Florida Weather Overview

Florida weather radar provides essential Doppler tracking for the most hurricane-exposed state in the nation, where storms threaten from the panhandle to the Keys. The Florida weather radar network monitors tropical systems, tornadoes, and daily thunderstorms via Doppler technology across nearly 500 miles of coastline. Florida averages 50-60 inches of annual rainfall, and Doppler weather radar helps residents see exactly when dangerous weather will arrive.

Hurricane season from June through November drives Florida's highest-stakes weather monitoring. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 remains the strongest to hit the state — a Category 5 with 892 hPa pressure that killed over 400 in the Keys. Hurricane Ian (2022) caused $112 billion in damage near Fort Myers with 12-18 feet of storm surge. Florida weather radar tracked Ian's eye wall in real time. Between hurricanes, Florida Doppler radar monitors tornadoes — the state has more per square mile than any other, and the February 1998 outbreak killed 42 in the Kissimmee area.

Multiple NWS offices provide statewide Doppler coverage: WFO TBW (Tampa Bay), WFO JAX (Jacksonville), WFO MLB (Melbourne), WFO KEY (Key West), and WFO TAE (Tallahassee). Live Florida weather radar helps residents from Pensacola to Miami time decisions around summer lightning and tropical threats. The January 2025 blizzard set the state snow record when Milton received 9.8 inches. Florida weather radar remains vital where weather ranges from Pensacola's record 127.24 inches in 1879 to Key West's drought low of 19.99 inches in 1974.

Florida Weather Risks & Safety

Key weather hazards to monitor on the Florida weather radar

Hurricane & Tropical Storm Risk

Florida sits in the path of Atlantic and Gulf tropical systems. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, peaking in August and September when warm sea surface temperatures fuel rapid intensification. On the radar, you can track the eye wall, rain bands, and embedded tornadoes as a storm approaches. If you live in Florida, keep your evacuation plan current and check the radar frequently once a tropical advisory is issued.

Tornado Risk

Tornadoes hit Florida hardest in spring and early summer, when warm Gulf air slams into cooler northern fronts. Supercell thunderstorms can spin up EF2+ tornadoes with very little lead time. On radar, rotation signatures inside storm cells give you a few critical minutes to reach shelter. Florida averages several tornado warnings per year — know where your safe room or interior closet is before you need it.

Flooding & Flash Flood Risk

Flash flooding is Florida's most persistent weather hazard. Slow-moving thunderstorms or tropical moisture can dump enough rain to overwhelm drainage systems within hours — especially in paved urban areas where water has nowhere to go. Check the radar to see where the heaviest rain is falling and which areas to avoid. The standing rule: turn around, don't drown. Never drive through flooded roads, even if they look shallow.

Severe Thunderstorm Risk

Severe thunderstorms roll through Florida regularly, especially spring through early fall. Expect damaging winds above 58 mph, large hail, and dangerous lightning. The radar shows you each storm cell's position, movement, and intensity — so you can tell if one is headed your way. When a thunderstorm warning drops for Florida, get indoors and away from windows until it passes.

How to Use Florida Weather Radar

Follow these steps to get the most from the Florida weather radar data.

Check Current Statewide Conditions

View the real-time weather status bar at the top of the Florida radar page — it shows temperature, humidity, wind speed, and current conditions. This data applies to your selected location within Florida.

Watch the Live Radar Map

The radar map displays precipitation and cloud cover moving across Florida — from the panhandle to the Keys. Toggle between precipitation and cloud views, then hit play to see which direction storms are tracking and how fast they're moving toward your area.

Monitor Hourly and 7-Day Forecasts

Scroll down to check the hourly forecast for incoming rain bands or afternoon thunderstorms. Review the 7-day outlook to spot potential tropical systems, cold fronts, or severe weather approaching Florida during hurricane season or spring tornado season.

Track Hurricanes and Severe Weather

During June through November, watch for tropical storm activity in the Atlantic and Gulf. Florida's radar updates every 10-20 minutes — critical when a hurricane eye wall or tornado-warned storm is approaching. Bookmark this page and check it frequently during severe weather season.

Who Benefits from Florida Weather Radar

How different people use the Florida radar data

Commuters & Drivers

Florida commuters crossing I-4, I-95, I-75, and the Florida Turnpike face sudden afternoon thunderstorms and tropical downpours year-round. Check the radar before your drive to see where heavy rain and lightning are hitting — especially during summer storm season when cells pop up fast across central and south Florida.

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Beachgoers along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic, hikers on the Florida Trail, and boaters in the Keys — check the hourly forecast before heading out. Summer thunderstorms develop rapidly across Florida, and the radar shows them 20-30 minutes before they reach you. Lightning kills more people in Florida than any other state.

Event Planners & Families

Planning outdoor events at stadiums like Hard Rock in Miami, Camping World in Orlando, or Raymond James in Tampa? The 7-day forecast helps you pick the safest day. On event day, radar shows exactly when afternoon storms will roll through — critical for scheduling around Florida's daily summer convection.

Outdoor Workers

Construction crews, theme park staff, and agricultural workers across Florida — check the radar before outdoor shifts. Lightning storms strike with little warning during summer months, and tropical systems can shut down outdoor work for days. Florida's NWS offices (TBW, JAX, MLB, KEY, TAE) issue frequent lightning safety alerts.

Florida Weather FAQ

Common questions about Florida weather patterns and radar

When is hurricane season in Florida, and which areas are most vulnerable?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, peaking in August through October. Florida is the most hurricane-prone state — Monroe County alone has been struck by 26 hurricanes since 1926. The Florida Keys, southwest coast (Fort Myers area), and panhandle (Pensacola) face the highest risk. Major landfalls include the Labor Day Hurricane (1935), which remains the strongest hurricane ever recorded in Florida, and Hurricane Ian (2022), which caused over $112 billion in damage and 150+ deaths.

Why does Florida get more tornadoes per square mile than any other state?

Florida averages the highest tornado density in the nation due to frequent collisions between Gulf moisture, Atlantic sea breezes, and frontal boundaries. Most tornadoes are EF0-EF1 and occur during summer afternoon thunderstorms or when tropical systems make landfall. The deadliest outbreak was February 1998, when nighttime tornadoes killed 42 people in the Kissimmee area. Spring months (March-May) see the strongest tornadoes when cold fronts clash with warm Gulf air.

What was Florida's worst weather disaster?

The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane remains Florida's deadliest storm — a Category 5 with the lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in the state (892 hPa). It killed over 400 people in the Florida Keys with sustained winds exceeding 185 mph. More recently, Hurricane Ian (2022) became the deadliest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935, making landfall near Fort Myers as a Category 4 with 12-18 feet of storm surge and causing catastrophic damage across southwest Florida.

How much does rainfall vary across Florida?

Florida's annual precipitation ranges dramatically by region and year. The statewide average is 50-60 inches per year, but coastal areas often see more. The wettest year on record was 1879, when Pensacola received 127.24 inches. The driest was 1974, when Key West got just 19.99 inches. Individual storms can dump extreme totals — Hurricane Easy (1950) produced 45.20 inches in 24 hours at Yankeetown, still Florida's wettest tropical cyclone rainfall.

Does Florida ever get snow?

Snow is extremely rare in Florida and typically limited to the panhandle. The historic January 2025 Gulf Coast blizzard set a state record when Milton received 9.8 inches of snow — an unprecedented event. Pensacola also saw measurable accumulation during this storm. Previous documented freezes occurred in 1894-95, 1899, 1977, 1983, 1985, and 1989, primarily affecting northern Florida. Central and south Florida have never recorded measurable snowfall.

How is this radar different from the Weather Channel or local TV station radars?

The Weather Channel and local Florida TV stations (Fox 13, WFLA in Tampa, Local 10 in Miami) provide radar alongside meteorologist analysis and live storm coverage — valuable during active hurricane or tornado warnings. This page offers a lightweight, ad-free alternative with interactive RainViewer radar maps, real-time conditions, and Open-Meteo forecasts for all of Florida. Radar updates every 10-20 minutes. Bookmark this page for fast statewide radar without video autoplay.