TROPICAL UPDATE: By the 4th of July and into the weekend, tropical development is possible with a potential low developing along an old front. Again possible, but definitely not a guarantee. This will be, at a minimum, a rainmaker regardless if it forms or not.

TROPICAL UPDATE: Anddd we're off. An area of low pressure is expected to form ahead off the Southeast coast. *IF* it stays offshore, it has a chance of becoming a tropical/subtropical depression or storm as it heads northeast.

HEADS UP! ⛈️ Rain and storms are expected across Florida today and tomorrow. Few storms could be strong to severe. In Southwest Florida, main timing will be late tonight into Monday. Locally, 1 - 2" of rain will be possible on average, few spots higher.

WORST DROUGHT IN 24 YEARS across Southwest Florida according to a new update this morning. Last time it was this dry was March of 2001. Thankfully better rain chances are on the way for the weekend and early next week.

*TURNING COOLER* this weekend across Florida with lows in the 40s and 50s by Sunday morning for most of the state. Will this be the last shot of cool air this season? Stay tuned!

HEADS UP! 🌧️ Chance of rain and storms tonight into Tuesday for Southwest Florida. Severe weather potential is low. Most rainfall totals between 0.10" - 0.50", few spots 0.50"+ possible. Definitely won't eliminate the drought, but will try to give our lawn a drink.

The first 2025 Hurricane Season forecast is out from Colorado State University, calling for an above-average year. @WINKNews

IT'S OFFICIAL! 🥵🔥 Southwest Florida reached 94° in the city of Punta Gorda today. That is 11° warmer than average, which in early April is 83°. Fort Myers also had a record too. Scorcher!

*RECORD HEAT POSSIBLE* today in Southwest Florida with highs in the lower to even mid 90s inland. That's what we typically see in late June, not April. Peak heat index between 95 - 100, stay cool! 🥵

🤣🤣

Happy Spring from Florida! 🤣🤣

#BREAKING: Successful splashdown! For the first time in 286 days, Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are back on Earth. Welcome home! 🇺🇸

HEADS UP! 🌧️ Brief line of rain & storms through Southwest Florida this evening and overnight. Severe weather potential overall is low, but not zero. Greater chance north of us (shown in Green-Level 1 and Yellow-Level 2). Not expected to be a major soaker, most rainfall totals below 0.25".

WINDY WEEKEND! 💨 Gusts for many between 30 - 40 mph possible across Southwest Florida, especially on Sunday. Boating not recommend! @WINKNews

So true 🤣🤣 @WINKNews

BRRR! Winter returns (again) to Southwest Florida tonight into Friday morning with lows in the 40s. Bundle up! 🥶 @WINKNews

HEADS UP! 🌧️ Brief line of heavy rain and gusty wind will be moving through Southwest Florida this afternoon into the early evening. Few lightning strikes possible, but severe potential is thankfully low. Most rainfall totals will be below 0.25", but still better than nothing!

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: A line of rain and a few storms will move through Southwest Florida during the afternoon and evening. Severe potential is projected right now to stay north of us. The fast movement of the rain will limit rainfall totals, with many under 0.25". Windy day too! @WINKNews

WINDY WEDNESDAY! 💨 Hold on to your hats, I wouldn't be surprised to see gusts between 30 - 40 mph across Southwest Florida. No boating please, small craft advisory in place. @WINKNews

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLORIDA! On this day in 1845 it became the 27th state. Lookin' good for 180! 🌴

FOUR FLORIDA FRONTS over the next 10 days. Weak one passing by now. The two for the 2nd half of next week will bring a chance of rain. Cooler and drier after. @WINKNews

Saturday, March 1st, is the beginning of Meteorological Spring. Florida is expected to be warmer and drier than average overall between March - May. Not always a guarantee obviously, but this is the current thinking. We'll see how things go! @WINKNews

RAINFALL TOTALS! 🌧️ Nice dry season soaker on Monday across Southwest Florida. The WINK Weather Team forecast verified with many averaging 0.50 - 1.50", few spots 2 - 4". It was great to see, we needed that rain!

HEADS UP! 🌧️ Rain & storms and some drought relief will moving across Florida on Monday. Stick with Southwest Florida's WINK Weather Team for the latest, I'll provide you with updates as they come in.

REMINDER: Exactly 2 weeks from today clocks go forward an hour on Sunday, March 9th! ⏰ #Timechange

Hard to believe, but the 2025 #Hurricane Season is only 100 days away. Let's hope for a quiet year! 🌀

Truth! 🤣🤣 #Florida

TURNING COLDER tonight into Friday morning across Southwest Florida. It's been over 3 weeks since we had a forecast this cold. Wind chills as low as the 30s, bundle up! 🥶 @WINKNews

Winter returns Friday morning! 🥶🥶

Meanwhile in #Florida 🏖️

The struggle is real...☀️🌴 #Florida

February blowtorch in Southwest Florida at the halfway point. 2nd warmest on record (so far) since 1902. +8.3 warmer than average. A little cooler next week. @WINKNews

MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT currently in Southwest Florida, according to the latest update today. Even for dry season standards, we are 3 - 6" below average since it started on October 15th. @WINKNews

RECORD HEAT today in Southwest #Florida, with Punta Gorda reaching 88° (tie). Several inland spots hit the 90s for the first time this year. Hottest was Big Cypress at 93°. @WINKNews

Heat index in the mid 90s today…in February. Hottest day of the early year. 🥵

Crazy 100° difference today across the country! 🥶🥵

#BREAKING: Powerful 7.6 magnitude #earthquake just occurred in the Caribbean Sea between the Cayman Islands and Honduras this evening. A #tsunami is possible in the Caribbean, but there is no threat for the contiguous United States. @WINKNews

Spring in February! ☀️🌴

2 - 5" DRIER THAN AVERAGE since the start of dry season (October 15th) in Southwest Florida. Moderate drought in progress. We need some rain, but unfortunately the outlook isn't great for the next 7 days. @WINKNews

Incredible group of meteorologists and great people I'm happy to call my friends. You can always trust us to protect you during all types of weather. It's an honor to serve Southwest Florida, we appreciate you watching WINK! ☀️

*RECORD HIGH* today in Punta Gorda tied, reaching 88°. That temperature is more typical of late April, not February. Spring is here...for now. ☀️🥵

HEADS UP! Mark your calendars skygazers, these are the top astronomical events taking place this month! 🌌

☀️🌴 #Florida

HOW COOL IS THIS?! A "fogbow" spotted in Southwest Florida along the coast of Bonita Beach this weekend. All the fog recently is because of warm air, a colder winter leading to cooler Gulf waters and higher humidity. Credit: Natalie Devisse @stormhour

Big Florida panther spotted recently near Babcock Ranch in Southwest Florida. The FWC collared and weighed it at 165 pounds, making it one of the largest ever recorded in Florida.

BLIZZARD IN HAWAII! ❄️🌴 A powerful storm is expected to bring 1 - 2 feet of snow and hurricane-force gusts to the summits of the Big Island tonight through Friday and Saturday morning. Even thundersnow is possible too! @WINKNews

The numbers are in. Sure felt like it! 🥶🥶

FLORIDA SUNSET! 🌅🌴 Incredible evening shot from Port Charlotte with a bonus colorful reflection along the water. One of my favorite pictures from 2025 so far! Credit: @WINKNews viewer Quincy T. Thayer @stormhour

2 - 5" DRIER THAN AVERAGE across Southwest Florida since Hurricane Milton in early October. Small to moderate drought in progress with not much relief over the next week. @WINKNews

Accurate 😆