Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Cedar Key, FL

SHORT TERM
(Today and Tonight)
Issued at 237 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Tropical Storm Bertha continues to move west away from the area. A few tropical rain bands containing torrential rain and gusty winds will swirl ashore, especially for the western half of our area today. Slightly drier air to the east filters eastward today and will help limit shower and thunderstorm chances along the I-75 corridor in Georgia and the southeastern Florida Big Bend this afternoon.

Temperatures will vary from the upper 80s to near 90 for areas along and west of an Albany, GA to Apalachicola, FL line to the middle 90s for areas to the east, where rain chances are lower.

Minor coastal flooding remains a concern through the high tide cycle this morning for the Emerald Coast and the western portions of the Forgotten Coasts, where a Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect.

Dangerous beach conditions will continue today and linger through the rest of the week as the Gulf takes a while to calm down from the winds, seas, and swell generated by Bertha the past few days. Please heed the beach flags and advice from local officials.

LONG TERM
(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 237 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Drier weather takes over Thursday and Friday as temperatures soar back into the lower to middle 90s. A weakening front approaches the region over the weekend, which will help to enhance rain chances on Sunday. Otherwise, only isolated showers and storms are forecast the next couple of afternoons. The combination of temperatures and elevated dew points will lead to heat indices generally between 100 to 107 through the period. There is a low (less than 20%) chance of the Florida Big Bend and Emerald Coast experiencing Heat Advisory criteria (heat indices at or above 108 degrees) through the weekend with more of the area having that chance early next week.

AVIATION
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 616 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Occasional MVFR ceilings are expected through the morning hours at ECP as lingering bands of showers affect the area. Gusty winds will return to all areas by mid-morning as daytime heating commences. However, winds will not be as high as yesterday. The best chance of seeing showers today is across the ECP to DHN corridor as Bertha continues to move away from the area.

MARINE
Issued at 237 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

At 10 PM CDT Tuesday, the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 130 miles west-southwest of Panama City. Bertha was moving to the west at 6 mph. A generally westward movement away from the region and toward southeast Louisiana will continue on Wednesday and Thursday. Maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph.
Winds over the northeast Gulf will decrease on Wednesday, and gusty squalls will diminish around midday. However, it will take until Thursday for substantial improvement in seas to get underway. A small bubble of high pressure will settle over the northeast Gulf on Friday night and Saturday. Westerly flow will increase Sunday as high pressure moves to the Southeast Gulf.

FIRE WEATHER
Issued at 237 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Overall, fire weather concerns remain low the next several days. The best opportunity of tropical downpours and gusty showers will be along and west of a line from Albany, GA to Apalachicola, FL. High dispersions are forecast across the entire area thanks to southerly transport winds between 15 to 25 mph.

HYDROLOGY
Issued at 237 AM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

Occasional tropical downpours are forecast across the Florida Panhandle into southeastern Alabama today. These could lead to some nuisance street flooding in more urban areas thanks to high rain rates.

A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect from the Aucilla River west to the Walton/Okaloosa county line. Persistent onshore flow in Apalachee Bay produced 2-2.5 ft of inundation Tuesday with observed flooding in the Panhandle (around 2 ft at Panama City Beach) Tuesday afternoon during low tide. Expect additional rises during the high tide cycles through this morning. These values/observations typically result in flooding of low-lying beach access roads and other coastal adjacent properties in Apalachee Bay and beach access areas into parking lots and some low-lying roads along the immediate coast in the Panhandle.

As Tropical Storm Bertha moves further away from the area on today, water levels along the coast should drop enough where advisories are no longer necessary later this afternoon.

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 92 75 95 74 / 40 0 0 0 Panama City 88 80 91 77 / 70 10 0 0 Dothan 92 74 95 73 / 50 10 10 0 Albany 94 74 96 75 / 20 0 0 0 Valdosta 95 73 97 74 / 0 0 0 0 Cross City 94 74 96 74 / 10 0 20 0 Apalachicola 90 80 91 77 / 50 0 0 0

TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 PM EDT /1 PM CDT/ this afternoon for FLZ108-112-114.

High Rip Current Risk through late Friday night for FLZ108-112- 114.

High Surf Advisory until 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ Thursday for FLZ108- 112-114.

Wind Advisory until 6 PM EDT /5 PM CDT/ this evening for FLZ108- 112-114.

Wind Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for FLZ115-127.

Coastal Flood Advisory until noon EDT today for FLZ115-118-127.

High Rip Current Risk through late Thursday night for FLZ115.

GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for GMZ730-765.

Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for GMZ735.

Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ751-752-770- 772.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM EDT Thursday for GMZ755-775.