A record flotilla of tens of millions of tons of sargassum is floating across the Atlantic and Caribbean this season, with Florida beaches seeing some of the nation's worst impacts.

Scientists say warmer waters, nutrient-rich currents, and favorable winds are helping drive what could become one of the worst sargassum seasons on record. Leslie Hudson reports from south Florida, where biologists say this year's bloom could become one of the worst on record. Click the Youtube link below to find out why this may be more than a typical summer nuisance.

In the open ocean, sargassum provides habitat for marine life. But once it reaches land and decays in the summer heat, it can release a rotten-egg smell, irritate beachgoers, and create a costly cleanup problem.
As it decays in the summer heat, it releases gases that smell like rotten eggs, can irritate sensitive individuals, and create an unpleasant experience for beachgoers.
And this year, the gulf is part of the forecast too. Researchers say substantial sargassum is already in the Gulf, with potential impacts along Florida, Louisiana and Texas beaches as the summer pattern unfolds.
For many communities, the challenge isn't simply removing it. In places like Florida's space coast, officials often leave the seaweed in place to avoid disturbing protected sea turtle nests.

Scientists will continue monitoring the massive Atlantic sargassum belt throughout the summer, but with hurricane season now underway, forecasters say changing winds, tropical systems, and ocean currents will ultimately determine which beaches see the worst impacts in the weeks ahead.

A strong earthquake off the coast of western Cuba was felt across much of the Florida Peninsula Monday afternoon, prompting evacuations from some buildings in Miami and Tampa.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake was estimated to be a magnitude 6.1 and occurred shortly after 2 p.m.

According to the agency, the epicenter was located about 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba, in the southeastern Gulf.

The shaking was noticeable enough across the Sunshine State that residents flocked to social media to figure out what had occurred.

"I was sitting on my couch and felt the whole couch move, looked at my coffee table and it was swaying, then checked my water and it was moving," a Hollywood-area resident posted on social media.

Similar witness accounts were also reported along Florida's west coast and through Central Florida, but as of Monday afternoon, there was no reported damage.

"Minor tremors from an earthquake in the Gulf, SW of Cuba have been felt in South Florida. There is no cause for alarm," rescuers with Miami Beach Fire stated.

Cuba is located near where the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates meet, so earthquakes are not uncommon
The last major event in the immediate region was a magnitude 5.9 quake that occurred in 2006.

Minutes after Monday's event, officials quickly ruled out the threat for a tsunami across the Caribbean and Gulf.

There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries from the quake across Cuba or other nearby island nations.

Florida will see limited rain chances throughout the weekend, as the widespread rainfall seen across many regions over the past week takes a break just in time for outdoor plans.

A surface high-pressure system centered over the western Atlantic will continue to drive easterly winds across the Florida Peninsula. Meanwhile, a broad area of dry air in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere will suppress thunderstorm development by limiting atmospheric instability. As a result, any showers that do form will be isolated and primarily focused across interior South Florida and parts of Southwest Florida.

Most of the peninsula will experience mostly sunny skies and hot temperatures. Afternoon highs are expected to reach the low to mid-90s across much of Central and South Florida. The hottest conditions will be found across Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay region, where temperatures could reach 95°F. Heat index values may climb as high as 105°F during the afternoon hours.

The reason temperatures will be hotter across the western half of the peninsula is the prevailing easterly wind flow. Areas along the Atlantic Coast will benefit from an onshore breeze, keeping temperatures generally in the mid to upper 80s. As the air moves inland, it warms, leading to higher temperatures along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Panhandle Forecast

Across the Florida Panhandle, much of the Interstate 10 corridor will remain under mostly sunny skies through the weekend. However, the far western Panhandle will experience periods of showers and thunderstorms, especially on Sunday. Increasing tropical moisture from the Gulf, combined with higher moisture levels in the middle and upper atmosphere, will support more widespread afternoon rainfall in that region.

Temperatures across the Panhandle will remain hot. Highs on Saturday will generally be in the lower 90s. By Sunday, temperatures will climb further, reaching the low to mid-90s from Tallahassee eastward toward Jacksonville, where sunny skies are expected. In contrast, the Pensacola area will remain cooler, with highs in the mid-80s due to increased cloud cover and rain chances.

South Florida outlook

South Florida may experience slightly hazy skies during the afternoon hours on both Saturday and Sunday. A thin layer of Saharan dust moving across the region could give the sky a faint yellowish appearance. While this dust plume is not particularly dense, it may be noticeable at times and prevent the sky from appearing completely blue.

Humidity levels will continue to increase across South Florida. After a brief period of noticeably lower humidity, more humid conditions are expected to return by Sunday. Weekend temperatures will generally range from 86°F to 89°F across Southeast Florida. There will also be a slight chance of a brief passing shower, particularly during the morning or evening hours along the Atlantic coast.

Hazardous marine conditions

Strong easterly winds will continue along Florida’s Atlantic Coast throughout the weekend, creating hazardous marine and beach conditions.

A high risk of rip currents will persist through at least Sunday. Rough surf is expected, with seas reaching up to 5 feet along portions of the Atlantic coastline. Conditions should gradually improve by Sunday, with seas subsiding closer to 3 feet. However, persistent onshore winds will continue to support dangerous rip currents. If you plan to visit the beach this weekend, swim only near a lifeguard and exercise extreme caution in the water. The safest option may be to remain out of the surf when rip current conditions are elevated.

Rian chances return next week as deep moisture returns to the middle and upper level of the atmosphere, which will allow for more instability to build, mainly across South Florida, where higher rainfall is in the forecast. Central and North Florida will continue with lower rain chances as the thunderstorms will be mainly driven by the sea breezes, and likely focuse across interior and western aras of the Peninsula.

Remember, the next drought outlook will be released on Thursday, June 11, and it will likely show big improvements across South Florida. We will bring you an update as soon as it is released.

The forecast cone may grab the headlines during hurricane season, but it does not show storm size or all of a storm’s impacts. In Florida, some of the most serious damage can extend well beyond the center track.

As hurricane season begins, remember this: the cone is not the whole story — and the coast is not the only place at risk. In Florida, the smarter question isn’t just where is the storm going? It’s what could it do where I live? Meteorologist Leslie Hudson has more. Click the Youtube link below:

On average, hurricane-force winds extend outward about 25 to 100 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds stretch much wider, reaching up to 150 to 300 miles outward. Florida's peninsula width averages about 120 miles, making it a prime candidate for state wide impacts on any given storm.

Good news this Thursday: the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows significant improvement across Florida.

Starting with the most severe category, exceptional drought has been cut nearly in half since the previous report. The next category, extreme drought, has improved by more than 10%. Severe drought coverage across the state has also decreased by about 10%, while moderate drought has improved slightly as well.

Although the entire state of Florida remains classified as abnormally dry, the overall trend is encouraging as we move through June.

Where has the biggest improvement occurred?

The most significant improvement has taken place across the Florida Panhandle. Areas experiencing severe drought have shrunk considerably and are now mostly confined to the Big Bend region. The western portion of the Panhandle has improved from severe to moderate drought.

Another area showing major improvement is Northeast Florida and the northern Space Coast. Much of this region was previously experiencing extreme drought but has now improved to severe drought. Severe drought conditions have also begun to ease across parts of Southwest Florida.

South Florida comes with a caveat

While South Florida has experienced very wet conditions this week due to abundant tropical moisture followed by a stationary front that brought gloomy weather and periods of heavy rain through Thursday, those rainfall totals are not included in this week's drought assessment. The report released on Thursday, June 4, only incorporates weather data through the morning of Tuesday, June 2. As a result, future drought reports will likely show additional improvement across South Florida.

June is typically a rainy month

An analysis of seven official weather stations across Florida shows that five of the seven major cities typically receive their highest average monthly rainfall during June.

In general:

• Central Florida averages between 6 and 7.5 inches of rainfall during June.
• Portions of the Panhandle average close to 8 inches of rain.
• Southwest and Southeast Florida average around 10 inches of rainfall, including cities such as Fort Myers and Miami.

What does the June 2026 outlook show?

The Climate Prediction Center's June outlook indicates an increased likelihood of above-average precipitation across much of Florida. Current forecasts suggest a 40% to 50% probability of above-normal rainfall during the month. If this trend continues, drought conditions should continue to improve significantly over the coming weeks.

It's important to remember that when it comes to drought relief, steady, moderate rainfall over several days is far more beneficial than torrential downpours over a short period. Heavy rainfall often creates flooding concerns and other hazards, while consistent rainfall is much more effective at replenishing soil moisture and reducing drought conditions.

While the Atlantic hurricane season is underway, some parts of the year are more active than others for residents of the Sunshine State.

Historically, June ranks as the third-quietest month for tropical cyclone activity affecting Florida, behind only July and November.

According to historical records, nearly three dozen tropical cyclones have impacted Florida during June, with only six at hurricane strength.

A recent system to nearly reach tropical storm status before impacting Florida occurred in 2022.

The system, which eventually became known as Alex, originated from the remnants of Hurricane Agatha in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

After crossing Central America, the system reorganized over the Gulf of Mexico and produced heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of South Florida.

The disturbance was not officially classified as a tropical cyclone until it emerged over the Atlantic Ocean after exiting the state.

The last designated tropical cyclone to make landfall in Florida during June was Tropical Storm Colin in 2016.

Colin developed over the Gulf of Mexico and impacted Florida's Big Bend region as a minimal tropical storm.

Because the cyclone remained relatively weak and disorganized, impacts were limited, with only minor damage reported.

To experience the last June hurricane in Florida, you have to go back to 1972 when Hurricane Agnes struck the Panhandle as a Category 1 cyclone.

The state has gone more than five decades without experiencing a June hurricane landfall, and it has been 10 years since a tropical storm made landfall during the month.

Around 94% of all tropical cyclones that impact Florida in June either form in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf.

During the early summer months, these regions are often warm enough to support development, while large portions of the tropical Atlantic remain less favorable due to cooler sea-surface temperatures and plumes of dry air moving off the coast of Africa.

On average, the Atlantic basin produces only one named storm during June, with the climatological formation date occurring around June 20.

As the calendar advances deeper into hurricane season, areas that are favorable for tropical development expand eastward into the tropical Atlantic, allowing August and September to account for the majority of tropical cyclone landfalls along the Eastern Seaboard.

Impacts are typically more frequent during the La Niña and neutral phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation than during El Niño years, such as what the 2026 season is heading into.

El Niño events often feature hostile upper-level winds across the tropical Atlantic that can disrupt developing cyclones.

According to a study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, the Southeast U.S. averages roughly one hurricane strike during an El Niño season and between two to three hurricanes during a La Niña cycle.

A cold front is pushing across Florida, funneling moisture across the peninsula on Tuesday. Deeper moisture will remain mainly focused across South Florida on Wednesday, while drier air begins filtering in from north to south, from the Panhandle through Central Florida.

This is a somewhat rare June cold front for Florida. What makes it special is that it will bring cooler temperatures, especially across the Panhandle and parts of North Florida, on Wednesday morning and possibly Thursday morning. The dry air will be especially noticeable along the I-10 corridor and possibly into Central Florida by Thursday, making conditions feel much more comfortable. Highs may only reach the low 80s in some areas, with mostly dry weather and east-northeast winds that could be strong at times.

Across North Florida, temperatures will remain in the mid to upper 80s on Thursday and Friday, but humidity levels will be lower. The coolest morning will likely be Thursday, when temperatures could drop into the low 60s around Tallahassee and across much of the Panhandle.

Winds on Wednesday afternoon will be mainly from the east-northeast, with gusts as high as 25 mph. With strong winds and dry air in place, please avoid fires or activities that could produce sparks, as fires could spread quickly.

Another concern will be hazardous seas as the front moves through and winds increase. A Small Craft Advisory is already in effect through at least Thursday morning. Northeast winds along much of Florida’s Atlantic coast could reach up to 30 knots, with seas as high as 8 feet from the Space Coast through Northeast Florida. Seas will also increase across South Florida, so boaters should monitor marine advisories from Wednesday evening through Thursday evening.

South Florida will remain in a soggy pattern on Wednesday and will still face a risk of flash flooding as the front inches closer. Many areas of Southeast Florida received more than 2 inches of rain in just a few hours on Tuesday afternoon, as sea breeze activity, abundant moisture, and westerly winds produced strong-to-severe thunderstorms. These storms brought heavy rainfall in a short period, leading to flooding in parts of Miami and Pembroke Pines, where several roads were affected.

South Florida will not see much of a drop in temperatures. Humidity is expected to remain in place through much of the week. A slight decrease in thunderstorm activity may be possible on Friday if a deeper layer of Saharan dust moves over the area. However, enough low-level moisture will remain available to support scattered showers and a few afternoon thunderstorms.

Over the next six months there is going to be a lot of talk about this year's hurricane season. So this week, we are going to be showcasing some hurricane season #fastfacts that can help you get prepared.

The forecast cone may get the most attention during hurricane season, but it does not show storm size or all of a storm’s impacts. In Florida, some of the most serious damage can extend well beyond the center track. Florida Storms' meteorologist Leslie Hudson has more on Day One of the 2026 hurricane season. Click the YouTube video below:

On average, hurricane-force winds extend outward about 25 to 100 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds stretch much wider, reaching up to 150 to 300 miles outward.

Florida's peninsula width averages about 120 miles, making it a prime candidate for state wide impacts on any given storm.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially began Monday with no tropical cyclone formation expected across the basin, marking the third consecutive year that the season has started without a trackable system during the preseason.

Satellite imagery across much of the Atlantic showed widespread dry air and strong upper-level winds, making the atmosphere too hostile for tropical development.

Typically, the first named storm in the Atlantic forms around June 20, and the first hurricane does not form until August.

While the official season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, tropical activity tends to be limited during the first few months as atmospheric conditions gradually become more conducive to development.

This season, one of the greatest influences on hurricane activity is expected to be a developing El Niño pattern over the Pacific Ocean.

As the El Niño event is expected to strengthen through the summer and into the fall, forecasters believe it will reshape weather conditions across both the Atlantic and Pacific basins.

The state of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation typically produces significant wind shear across the Atlantic basin, which helps disrupt thunderstorm organization and tropical cyclone development.

Additionally, water temperatures across portions of the tropical Atlantic are running cooler than during recent hurricane seasons, which can reduce cyclone development.

As a result of these hostile conditions, forecasters widely expect the Atlantic basin to experience below-average tropical cyclone activity this season.

NOAA recently unveiled its seasonal outlook, which calls for eight to 14 named storms, including three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes.

Despite expectations for reduced activity, forecasters stress that seasonal outlooks do not indicate where landfalls will occur.

The first tropical storm of the season will be named Arthur, which usually doesn't form until around June 20.

The Pacific basin, however, appears poised for an extremely active year, with areas of disturbed weather that could become Amanda and Boris over the next week.

Typically, most cyclones in the eastern Pacific do not pose a direct threat to land, but with certain steering patterns, Hawaii, Mexico and parts of Central America can find themselves within the forecast cone.

Deep tropical moisture will continue to arrive in Florida, interacting with a warm air mass. In some areas, daytime heating will also contribute to the development of the strongest thunderstorms during the afternoon.

Thursday will be a wet day across most of Florida. Showers have lingered near the coast and just offshore of southeast Florida since the early morning hours. Rainfall totals between 1 and 2 inches have been recorded in just a few hours since sunrise in coastal Miami-Dade, while heavier downpours have also stretched along I-95 through Palm Beach County.

Southwest Florida also woke up to downpours after a very stormy Wednesday afternoon. However, today’s rainfall totals, measured between midnight and 8 a.m., range from 0.25 to 1.25 inches.

More rain is on the way

A pocket of moisture will continue to ignite showers and push them mainly from west to east across South Florida through the latter part of the morning. By the afternoon hours, an impulse of energy will bring additional moisture across the Panhandle. When combined with any sunshine that breaks through, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, allowing strong downpours and thunderstorms to develop. The primary storm movement will be from west to east, but keep in mind that some of these storms will move slowly and could produce heavy rainfall in a short amount of time, leading to localized flooding.

This evening, thunderstorms will likely persist across Central and South Florida, and by then, storms are expected to move from north to south. This is one reason South Florida is more vulnerable to flash flooding: the region is likely to experience multiple rounds of storms, many of which could become intense at different times throughout the day.

The western Panhandle has been soggy for several days. While this has helped improve drought conditions, it also increases the risk of flash flooding because the ground has become compacted, making it more difficult for rainwater to drain properly. The heaviest rainfall during the next three days will likely focus over the eastern portion of the Panhandle. The Jacksonville area, along I-95, could receive between 2 and 4 inches of rain.

Could this rain help the drought?

Many residents have wondered why the drought has not improved despite all this rain. The reality is that this is a severe drought that, for many areas, began during the last rainy season and only worsened throughout the dry season. It takes more than one or two heavy downpours to bring meaningful drought relief. Instead, several rounds of rainfall — preferably steady light-to-moderate rain — are needed to gradually penetrate the compacted ground and provide lasting improvement.

The good news is that Florida is now in the rainy season, and long-range models continue to show a steady stream of moisture that will keep rain chances elevated across the state. We will continue to monitor moisture surges and the flood threat across Florida and provide timely updates.

Saharan dust could suppress rain chances a bit

There is a large plume of Saharan dust traveling over the Caribbean. June is a notable month for dust plumes to arrive in the Americas, and this year doesn’t seem to be any different. For now, models show that the deepest dust layer could arrive in South Florida from Sunday through Tuesday, with another deep layer likely to spread across Florida during the latter part of the week. These plumes can be difficult to model at times, so please stay tuned, as the final location could vary. Nonetheless, if dust moves into your region, you may notice hazy, yellowish skies, lower rain chances, and hotter temperatures.