Surf's up, beach lovers! The National Weather Service is bringing you the hottest coastal forecast for West Central and Southwest Florida.

Beach hunters rejoice - we're looking at a stunning day with wall-to-wall sunshine and temperatures climbing into the upper 70s and lower 80s. Water temperatures are sitting pretty in the mid 70s, making for some seriously inviting ocean conditions.

Wind patterns are playing musical chairs today - starting northeast and dancing toward northwest this afternoon. For our friends from Cedar Key to Fort Myers Beach, get ready for a gorgeous day with minimal wave action. Most beaches will see surf heights barely touching 1 to 2 feet.

Rip current risk is telling an interesting story. Coastal Levy through Pasco counties are sitting pretty with a low risk. Meanwhile, our Charlotte and Lee County beaches are sporting a moderate rip current risk, so beach-goers should stay alert and watch those tricky currents near jetties and piers.

UV index is cranked up to very high, so sunscreen is not just recommended - it's mandatory. Slather up, beach bunnies!

Tidal timing varies by location, but most beaches will see low tides in the morning and high tides in the afternoon. Cedar Key and Saint Petersburg have synchronized tidal dance moves, hitting low tide around 8:30-9:00 AM and high tide near 2:30 PM.

Tonight promises clear skies with temperatures dipping into the lower 60s. Winds will gently shift from northwest to northeast after midnight.

Monday looks like a carbon copy of Sunday - sunny, warm, and absolutely gorgeous. Southeast winds will gradually swing southwest, keeping things interesting.

Stay safe, stay sunny, and enjoy that Florida paradise!

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI