979
FXUS62 KTAE 181406
AFDTAE

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
906 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...New UPDATE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 845 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

- Hazardous marine conditions for small craft is expected
  beginning today through Friday morning. Small craft advisories
  are hoisted in waters west of Apalachicola while exercise
  caution will exist east of Apalachicola including Apalachee Bay.

- A high risk of rip currents is in effect for all local beaches
  today into the first half of the weekend.

- Beneficial rain is expected on today and tonight. Rainfall
  totals will mostly range from one-quarter inch to one inch, with
  the heavier amounts falling over our Florida counties. There is
  a low chance of a strong storm or two over coastal communities
  this afternoon.

- Christmas week will feature temperatures running consistently
  5-10 degrees above normal. In late December, normal lows are
  around 40-45 degrees, and normal highs are in the mid 60s.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 845 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

The main change to today`s forecast was adjusting the hourly PoPs
for the next few hrs based on current radar and hi-res model
trends. Batches of light to moderate have been gradually spreading
from SW to NE off the Gulf this morning with a better focus over
the FL Big Bend. The 12Z HRRR has a solid handle on this activity,
so it was leaned on more in favor of the inherited forecast. The
initial wave of rain gives way to another batch that should be
stronger in the afternoon. By 21Z, it appears that some dry-
slotting takes place for the western parts of the Tri-State area

The kinematic environment is characterized by robust deep-layer
shear with indications of a low-level jet off the Emerald Coast,
per latest SPC mesoanalysis. The latter is slated to spread
towards the FL state line over the next several hrs. If some
instability can develop and overlap with the aforementioned
kinematics, then there will be a window of opportunity for a few
localized strong storms capable of strong/gusty winds and perhaps
a brief spin up from rotating cells. Coastal locations would
stand the best chance to be affected.

There is also potential for isolated pockets of heavy rain, which
may induce nuisance flooding/ponding/local runoff issues in
urban, low-lying, or poor-drainage areas. Local CAMs and the HREF
suggest locally higher amounts in portions of the Panhandle, such
as Panama City in excess of 2 inches. The widespread cloud cover
and rain-cooled air should keep temperatures on the cooler side,
so today`s highs were nudged down a couple of degrees.

&&

.SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM...
(Today through next Wednesday)
Issued at 140 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

Southern stream shortwave trough is located from the ArkLaTex
southward to now off the Texas east coast with southwesterly mid
level flow in place east of this feature encompassing the southeast
CONUS. A northern stream stronger shortwave trough is located in the
northern Plains moving southeast. The northern stream shortwave will
pickup the southern stream shortwave while supporting a cold front
which will push southeast and through our area Thursday night into
Friday morning. Progged PWATs are less than inch but will increase
to 1.6-1.8 inches peaking this afternoon. Low to mid 60 dewpoints
will surge inland through the day along with weak instability
(MLCAPE) around 500 J/kg across the Gulf waters, along the coast
or just inland over extreme southeast Panhandle counties wrapping
around Apalachee Bay Thursday afternoon. As a 30-35 knot LLJ is
overhead, the possibility of a strong storm or two cannot be ruled
out later this afternoon in the aforementioned area but the
threat remains low. Much of the rain will push northeast in the
evening though a few showers may linger as well as a few showers
accompany the front as it moves through overnight into Friday
morning. Behind the front, winds turn northwesterly through the
day while relaxing towards the early evening. Along with clear
skies and lows dipping into the low to mid 30s north of I10,
patchy frost is possible into Saturday morning.

A moderating trend will take place Saturday and Sunday, though
another cold front appears on tap Sunday. Highs Sunday in the 70s
will briefly dip back into the 60s Monday post frontal. From
Tuesday onward, strong mid level high sets up from central Texas
eastward into the northern Gulf. Temperatures warmup back into
the 70s for highs and lows around 50 through the end of next week,
which is above normal for this time of year. CPC temperature
outlook for Dec. 23-27 shows a high chance of above normal
temperatures. In late December, normal lows run around 40-45
degrees, and normal highs average around the mid 60s.

&&

.LONG TERM...

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 526 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

Rain over the Gulf is increasing ahead of an upper trough and low
pressure area. VFR conds continue at this hour but will worsen
this morning as that rain moves into the tri-state area. Cigs will
gradually lower this morning from south to north and vsbys will
decrease in heavier rainshowers. MVFR to IFR conds is expected
today and tonight. Enough instability may be present for thunder
closer to the coast including ECP/TLH and perhaps VLD later today.
May be a lull in convection later today as the first batch of
convection moves northeast and awaiting any showers along the
front this evening and overnight. East to southeast winds will
clock southwesterly this evening then northwesterly behind the
front towards the end of the TAF at DHN/ECP with a few gusts
approaching 20 knots.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 140 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

A cold front will pass through the waters late tonight into
early Friday morning. Ahead of the front, fresh to strong south to
southeast winds will develop today into this evening, followed by
fresh to strong northwesterlies behind the front into Friday
morning. Hoisted small craft advisories in waters west of
Apalachicola today through Friday morning while exercise caution
will be in place in waters east of Apalachicola. Winds will decrease
from late Friday through Saturday while clocking around easterly, as
high pressure to the north moves east into the Atlantic. On Sunday
and Sunday night, the southern periphery of strong high pressure
over the Ohio Valley will bridge south, freshening the easterly
breezes, which are most likely to be fresh or strong by Monday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 140 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

Chances for showers and isolated thunderstorms will increase
this morning from southwest to northeast ahead of a cold front which
is expected to pass through the area Friday morning. Rain chances
are high (80-90) through most of the area with slightly lower
chances in the southeast Big Bend (60-80%). There is a good chance
that much of the area will receive at least a half inch of rainfall
with coastal panhandle and western Big Bend having a medium chance
(40-60%) of receiving an inch or more. Thick cloud cover and low
mixing heights will lead to low dispersions today. The cold front
will move through Friday morning with a return to dry and cool
conditions, though a warmup is anticipated into next week. Low
mixing heights and weak transport winds will bring poor dispersions
Saturday.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 140 AM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

Flooding is not expected for the next 7 days.

Beneficial rain is expected on Thursday and Thursday evening, in
advance of a cold frontal passage early Friday morning. The
forecast axis of highest rain has shifted a little east and now
extends from near Panama City and Port Saint Joe into the Big
Bend region and far south Georgia. This area has a high chance of
exceeding one-half inch. There is even a low chance (10 percent)
for points in this area and south of I-10 to exceed 2 inches.
Other parts of the region are most likely to pick up around 1/4 to
1/2 inch of rain.

These amounts will be beneficial but will do little to alleviate
the longer lasting impacts of the ongoing drought. For more
information on local impacts from drought, please visit
www.weather.gov/tae/LocalDrought.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee   66  56  66  39 /  90  50   0   0
Panama City   68  53  65  42 /  90  50   0   0
Dothan        63  49  59  36 / 100  50   0   0
Albany        65  51  61  34 /  90  60   0   0
Valdosta      67  57  66  36 /  90  60  10   0
Cross City    73  60  73  41 /  60  50   0   0
Apalachicola  68  56  66  46 /  90  60   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for FLZ108-112-114-
     115.

GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until noon CST Friday for GMZ751-752-770-
     772.

&&

$$

UPDATE...IG3
SHORT TERM...Scholl
LONG TERM....Scholl
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...Scholl
FIRE WEATHER...Scholl
HYDROLOGY...Haner