Beachgoers heading to Florida’s east coast or Panhandle this Memorial Day Weekend face dangerous rip currents and high surf, with officials advising people to stay out of the ocean. Thunderstorms are expected Saturday and Sunday, with additional rain showers on Monday, all driven by energy impulses moving through a high-pressure system that is keeping major fronts north of the state. The weekend will also bring intense heat, humidity, and elevated UV levels.
Sources: WUFT News
Federal forecasters at NOAA are predicting a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season in 2026, assigning a 55% probability of reduced activity. The agency expects 8 to 14 named storms, with 3 to 6 reaching hurricane strength and 1 to 3 becoming major hurricanes — all figures below a typical season’s averages. A strengthening El Niño is credited with the expected suppression, as it tends to increase wind shear across the Atlantic basin, though forecasters caution that dangerous storms remain possible.
Sources: WUFT News · Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20
Florida wildlife officials have opened registration for the annual Python Challenge, a statewide effort to reduce the invasive Burmese python population in the Everglades running from July 10 through July 19. The top prize of $10,000 goes to whoever removes the most pythons during the competition. Last year, participants pulled nearly 300 of the snakes from the Everglades; the species has no natural predators in Florida, reproduces rapidly, and can grow up to 16 feet long.
Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News
