FPREN

The hurricane hunters start their second leg of the tour, with all stops scheduled along the Gulf Coast, including one in Sarasota. This free event showcases the two main hurricane hunter planes and staff members who fly them.

The best time to prepare in Florida is before hurricane season ramps up—when supplies, insurance decisions, and evacuation plans can be made without pressure.

The first named cyclone in the Atlantic basin typically forms around June 20, with meteorologists tracking the first hurricane by Aug. 11. The first named storm will be Arthur.

For Florida, hurricane season prep starts with understanding that not all risk looks the same. Hurricane impacts can include storm surge, inland flooding, destructive wind, tornadoes, and more.

With the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season less than a month away, Florida has replaced its annual tax holiday with a permanent sales tax exemption on disaster supplies.

Damaging winds, hail, and an isolated tornado are possible starting Friday for parts of the Panhandle while the risk moves east on Saturday. Flash floods are also possible.

Record temperatures over the weekend are expected across Florida just before a front stalls and brings much-welcomed rains.

The amount of rainfall needed to end the drought around Florida varies from a few inches across Central Florida to nearly 30 inches along the Interstate 10 corridor.

Florida will have a couple of cold fronts trying to sweep through over the coming 7 days, but there is not much hope for cooler temperatures. Instead, temperatures soar!

The Florida Forest Service reports more than 130 wildfires are burning across the Sunshine State and have consumed at least 25,000 acres.