Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Daytona Beach, FL

DISCUSSION
Issued at 340 PM EST Fri Mar 6 2026

Currently...Dominant E-SE flow around subtropical high pressure is pushing a diffuse east coast sea breeze steadily inland. Morning Cape sounding shows some drier at 800-850mb and this is likely helping to suppress the cu field seen on hi res vis sat imagery.
Some higher moisture across north central FL combined with cold mid level temps (-13C) is generating scattered showers and lightning storms. As the sea breeze interacts with the larger lake breeze boundaries across NW Volusia and Lake counties through early eve, isolated showers and storms should percolate.

Tonight/Sat...Model guidance is not too bullish on fog chances as boundary layer should remain pretty mixed in persistent SE flow, thus limiting fog coverage. Stratus is typically favored in these situations. High pressure over the western Atlc with associated ridge axis north of the area will maintain the onshore (ESE/SE)
flow Sat. Wind speeds will average 10-15 mph and sometimes 15-20 mph along the coast with some higher afternoon gusts. Isolated showers will push on the coast from the Atlc, esp late night/ morning hours and south of the Cape. During the day another diffuse east coast sea breeze will develop and push inland, sparking additional ISOLD to WDLY SCT showers. An ISOLD lightning storm or two will be possible in the afternoon in association with the inland-moving sea breeze.

Highs will reach the L80s along the coast to M80s into the interior today and Sat. Overnight lows remain mild and in the 60s.

A continued threat exists at ALL central FL beaches for numerous, strong, life-threatening rip currents and occasional rough surf, in part, due to the persistent ENE long period swell. It is strongly discouraged to enter the chilly surf through this weekend.

Sun-Fri...Surface high pressure ridging remains near or across the central FL peninsula for much of this period. Surface winds may veer a bit more SE/S at times and decrease in speed. This should produce a better chance for patchy fog across a larger area of EC FL both Sun and Mon mornings. Periodic onshore-moving showers along the coast and an ISOLD aftn/evening lightning storm cannot be ruled out across the interior, though PWATs will be modest through Wed. For most days, a 20% or less chance of precip will exist and much of the forecast area will remain dry as a whole. A frontal boundary is forecast to settle southward into north FL late in the week which will increase moisture and rain chances. There are timing differences with the operational 12Z ECMWF showing a cleaner, faster frontal passage late Thu. WPC is leaning toward the GFS solution showing a slower frontal progression down the peninsula on Fri. Hence, scattered showers and isolated storms are in the forecast for both Thu and Fri.

Much above normal temperatures are forecast this weekend and into mid next week. Near record highs in the mid to upper 80s each day over the interior with a 90F reading or two within reach. In the short term, record highs at LEE and SFB (both 87F) on Sunday look the most vulnerable. Not as warm along the coast as onshore flow holds max temps near 80 along the immediate coast.

MARINE
Issued at 340 PM EST Fri Mar 6 2026

A persistent pattern in place as high pressure continues across the western Atlc with a trailing ridge axis initially north of the local Atlc waters. This ridge axis will settle southward closer to central FL Sun into early next week. Winds will be predominately ESE-SSE at 10-15 knots with some higher gusts.
Primary contribution to wave height will be a 3-4 ft east well with a bit of a wind chop added. So combined seas 4-5 FT Sat and 3-5 FT Sun-Mon and 3-4 FT Tue-Wed. ISOLD-WDLY SCT shower chances exists for much of this period and an ISOLD lightning storm threat (less than 20pct) cannot be ruled out this weekend.

AVIATION
(18Z TAFs)
Issued at 1229 PM EST Fri Mar 6 2026

Mainly VFR conditions through early tonight, then more stratus/fog possible along and north of I-4. This afternoon, wind gusts 18-23 kts from the ESE have managed to creep inland, and the strato-cu deck has produced BKN020-030 MVFR CIGs from time to time, but has now generally lifted or thinned out to VFR. Some SHRA/TSRA could develop inland on a diffuse east coast sea breeze INVOF KMCO-KLEE after 19Z, but highest chances along the sea breeze collision well west of the ECFL terminals after 23Z. Window for SHRA/TSRA closes by 00Z at KMCO/KISM (and likely sooner), but could see an ISO cell creep back towards KLEE through around 02Z.
Chances for MVFR-IFR CIGs from 08Z-14Z at the inland terminals have increased to 20-60% (at KMCO, around 50% for MVFR and 20% for IFR), but only in the most recent runs and would like to get a few more cycles in before committing to TEMPO or prevailing reductions in the TAFs. Mainly VFR conditions after 15Z Saturday.
Another day of ESE winds becoming gusty along the coast and possibly inland, and low chances for SHRA/TSRA inland after 19Z.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
DAB 64 81 64 83 / 0 20 10 30 MCO 67 85 66 86 / 0 20 10 30 MLB 68 80 66 81 / 10 20 10 20 VRB 68 81 66 82 / 10 20 10 20 LEE 66 86 65 86 / 10 30 10 30 SFB 66 84 65 86 / 0 20 10 30 ORL 66 84 66 86 / 0 20 10 30 FPR 67 81 64 83 / 10 20 10 20

MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...None.
AM...None.