Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Apalachicola, FL

UPDATE
Issued at 903 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Forecast is on track. No significant updates required.

.SHORT TERM & LONG TERM...
(This Evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 206 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

The last vestiges of colder air leave the region heading into tomorrow as the troughing along the East Coast begins to depart off into the Atlantic. Looking back to our west, anomalously strong ridging will build over the western two-thirds of the CONUS. This will bring a warming trend with temperatures returning to above normal levels heading into the weekend and early next week.

Lows tonight will be in the low to mid 40s for most with mostly clear skies. Heading into Friday, highs will rise to the mid to upper 70s. The warming trend continues into the weekend as ridging builds eastward with highs in the low to mid 80s and lows in the 50s. With a bit more moisture return over the weekend, some patchy fog may become possible Saturday and Sunday nights.

Early next week, a weak shortwave moves over the Great Lakes and into the Northeast US on Monday, which flattens the eastern edge of the ridge. This shortwave will send a cold front our way. Model guidance has backed off on any (slightly) cooler temperatures as well as any precip. Thus, the middle part of next week may have temperatures a couple degrees cooler, but it won't be much of a noticeable change outside of a wind direction change. Highs remain mostly in the 80s and lows stay in the 50s. Little to no rain is expected through the next 7 days.

AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 702 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR conditions are expected to persist through the TAF period.
Possible vsby restrictions around ECP this evening through sunset due to nearby prescribed forestry burns. Light and variable winds will become calm overnight through the morning hours. Light northeast winds expected tomorrow afternoon. The seabreeze will bring southerly and southwesterly winds to ECP for the afternoon.

MARINE
Issued at 206 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Gentle northeasterly breezes tonight will become westerly to southwesterly on Friday as high pressure slides south of our area.
Breezes become more moderate Sunday night into Monday ahead of a cold front. Winds behind the front Monday night into Tuesday will shift out of the northwest to north and remain moderate. Chances of Small Craft Advisory thresholds being met are low (less than 20%).

FIRE WEATHER
Issued at 206 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Near critical RH values are expected again Friday afternoon, mainly across the Florida Big Bend into south central Georgia. Light north to northeast winds tomorrow will become more southwesterly in the afternoon as the afternoon sea breeze moves inland. This with high mixing heights will generally lead to fair to good dispersions Friday. Over the weekend, dispersions become high across inland areas as westerly to southwesterly flow strengthens and mixing heights increase. Daily afternoon sea breezes will enhance the southwesterly winds, especially near and south of I-10. This flow will also aid in increasing moisture, keeping RH values above critical levels this weekend.

HYDROLOGY
Issued at 206 PM EDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Little to no rain is forecast for the next 7 days. Drought remains our only hydrologic concern. Severe to extreme drought continues for most of the area. However, today's release of the US Drought Monitor now has a swath of Exceptional Drought across the southern row of Georgia counties from Grady County eastward and into the upper Suwannee Basin. For more information on local drought impacts, visit www.weather.gov/tae/DroughtInformationStatement.

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 42 77 50 82 / 0 0 0 0 Panama City 48 73 58 75 / 0 0 0 0 Dothan 43 77 51 82 / 0 0 0 0 Albany 39 76 49 82 / 0 0 0 0 Valdosta 40 76 47 83 / 0 0 0 0 Cross City 41 77 45 80 / 0 0 0 0 Apalachicola 49 69 57 73 / 0 0 0 0

TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FL...None.
GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...None.