Surf's up, beach lovers! Get ready for a sizzling day along West Central and Southwest Florida's coastline. The National Weather Service is calling for a typical summer scorcher with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and water temperatures sitting comfortably in the mid 80s.
Today's looking mostly sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms potentially rolling through, so keep an eye on those skies. The UV index is cranked up to very high, so sunscreen is your best friend out there. Winds will be dancing from southeast to southwest at a gentle 5 to 10 miles per hour.
Rip current risk remains low, but don't get too comfortable. Life-threatening currents can still pop up near jetties, piers, and reefs, so stay alert and swim smart. The surf's looking pretty mellow with waves barely reaching a foot.
Tidal action is looking pretty predictable. Cedar Key and Saint Petersburg will see high tides in the morning and low tides in the afternoon. For those hanging out near Venice or Fort Myers Beach, you'll want to plan your beach time around those morning and evening tide shifts.
As we roll into tonight, expect partly cloudy skies with those classic Florida scattered thunderstorms keeping things interesting. Temperatures will hover around a warm 80 degrees, with winds shifting to a westerly breeze.
Friday's forecast looks like a carbon copy of today - mostly sunny, chance of thunderstorms, and temperatures holding steady in the upper 80s. Whether you're catching rays in Clearwater, exploring Sanibel, or lounging on Siesta Key, it's shaping up to be another beautiful day in paradise.
Remember beach warriors - stay hydrated, watch for those pop-up storms, and soak up that sunshine responsibly!