Florida weather: Urgent warning as wildfires 'ramping up' amid worsening drought
Officials have given a stark warning that
Florida's wildfire season is intensifying
as
worsening drought conditions
continue to ignite blazes.
Drought conditions and
dry, warm, weather
have fueled at least five recent fires and prompted a nationwide burning ban. On Wednesday, blazes in Brevard County flared, including two bushfires in Palm Bay that came dangerously close to homes.
Flames erupted just feet away from residential properties, leading to evacuation orders as parts of the city were blanketed in thick smoke. By late Wednesday the fires were contained but another 200-acre blaze in an area known as The Compound is still raging.
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More than a dozen active wildfires are burning
(Image: Fox)
More than a dozen active wildfires are currently burning across the state, including five that have erupted in the last week alone. But more hot and dry
weather
is in store for
Florida
, extending the elevated wildfire risk as residents are urged to prepare now.
More dry and hot weather in Florida to fuel wildfires
More dry and hot weather will hit Florida throughout the end of the week, worsening drought conditions and elevating the wildfire risk as more than a dozen blazes are already burning.
"This week we are going to continue to stay very hot, very dry. A lot more of the same of what we've been experiencing all week will continue into the weekend,"
Click Orlando
forecaster Candace Campos said on Wednesday. She added: "That is going to continue to keep our fire danger elevated for another couple of days as we have no rain in the forecast."
'Extreme' drought conditions expand across Florida
The spike in recent fire activity comes as drought conditions have worsened in central Florida. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which acts as a key measure of fire risk, has been increasing due to the prolonged hot and dry weather, according to officials.
In Brevard County, five wildfires have erupted in the last week, impacting areas including Cocoa, Viera, and Palm Bay. Over the Florida Peninsula, conditions also range from abnormally dry to extreme drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor.
The severe drought has also expanded across much of the state, including South Florida. The only area that's not experiencing a drought is from Alachua County northward towards Tallahassee through Pensacola.
When did drought conditions in Florida begin?
Drought conditions have been spreading across Florida since January. At the start of the year, much of the region was already experiencing abnormally dry weather, according to a graphic released by the National Weather Service.
In February, some areas began experiencing severe drought while by April 15 the worst-hit regions were seeing extreme drought.
When will drought conditions in Florida end?
While no rain is forecast for the rest of this week, some showers could provide some drought relief early next week.
"We will start to see more of a hint of rain back into the area though by Monday," Candace said. She explained: "Overall it's going to be a warm week ahead, we have a big ridge of high pressure that will continue to stay in control all the way throughout the weekend and it really won't be until early next week where we will start to see a little bit of a weakening in that ridge that could allow some additional moisture to move in by then."
However, drought conditions could still worsen through the end of the month and into May as more dry weather is expected. Florida's dry season typically comes to an end in mid-May.
Florida residents warned to prepare for raging wildfires now
Residents have been warned to prepare for fires
Amid elevated wildfire risks, Florida residents, particularly those living close to wooded areas, have been urged to act quickly to prepare themselves for the event of a fire.
"It's really ramping up and we are anticipating it to become even more active," Cliff Frazier, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forestry Service
told Fox 35
. He added: "If you live out in the wildland urban interface, it's time to prepare now before the wildfire gets there. There's no need to prepare when the wildfire gets there — because then it's too late."
What is causing the Florida wildfires?
Authorities have not released any specific causes of the wildfire raging across Florida. While it is not known what may have sparked them, it is clear that the weather conditions have fueled them.
High temperatures, low humidity levels, intense sunshine, dry brush and sandy soil have boosted the wildfire risk.
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Irish Daily Star
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Officials have given a stark warning that Florida's wildfire season is intensifying as worsening drought conditions continue to ignite blazes. Drought conditions and dry, warm, weather have fueled at least five recent fires and prompted a nationwide burning ban. On Wednesday, blazes in Brevard County flared, including two bushfires in Palm Bay that came dangerously close to homes. Flames erupted just feet away from residential properties, leading to evacuation orders as parts of the city were blanketed in thick smoke. By late Wednesday the fires were contained but another 200-acre blaze in an area known as The Compound is still raging. Read More Related Articles 'Hideous' Trump hangs new self-portrait in White House next to his greatest political rival Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way More than a dozen active wildfires are burning (Image: Fox) More than a dozen active wildfires are currently burning across the state, including five that have erupted in the last week alone. But more hot and dry weather is in store for Florida , extending the elevated wildfire risk as residents are urged to prepare now. More dry and hot weather in Florida to fuel wildfires More dry and hot weather will hit Florida throughout the end of the week, worsening drought conditions and elevating the wildfire risk as more than a dozen blazes are already burning. "This week we are going to continue to stay very hot, very dry. A lot more of the same of what we've been experiencing all week will continue into the weekend," Click Orlando forecaster Candace Campos said on Wednesday. She added: "That is going to continue to keep our fire danger elevated for another couple of days as we have no rain in the forecast." 'Extreme' drought conditions expand across Florida The spike in recent fire activity comes as drought conditions have worsened in central Florida. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which acts as a key measure of fire risk, has been increasing due to the prolonged hot and dry weather, according to officials. In Brevard County, five wildfires have erupted in the last week, impacting areas including Cocoa, Viera, and Palm Bay. Over the Florida Peninsula, conditions also range from abnormally dry to extreme drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. The severe drought has also expanded across much of the state, including South Florida. The only area that's not experiencing a drought is from Alachua County northward towards Tallahassee through Pensacola. When did drought conditions in Florida begin? Drought conditions have been spreading across Florida since January. At the start of the year, much of the region was already experiencing abnormally dry weather, according to a graphic released by the National Weather Service. In February, some areas began experiencing severe drought while by April 15 the worst-hit regions were seeing extreme drought. When will drought conditions in Florida end? While no rain is forecast for the rest of this week, some showers could provide some drought relief early next week. "We will start to see more of a hint of rain back into the area though by Monday," Candace said. She explained: "Overall it's going to be a warm week ahead, we have a big ridge of high pressure that will continue to stay in control all the way throughout the weekend and it really won't be until early next week where we will start to see a little bit of a weakening in that ridge that could allow some additional moisture to move in by then." However, drought conditions could still worsen through the end of the month and into May as more dry weather is expected. Florida's dry season typically comes to an end in mid-May. Florida residents warned to prepare for raging wildfires now Residents have been warned to prepare for fires Amid elevated wildfire risks, Florida residents, particularly those living close to wooded areas, have been urged to act quickly to prepare themselves for the event of a fire. "It's really ramping up and we are anticipating it to become even more active," Cliff Frazier, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forestry Service told Fox 35 . He added: "If you live out in the wildland urban interface, it's time to prepare now before the wildfire gets there. There's no need to prepare when the wildfire gets there — because then it's too late." What is causing the Florida wildfires? Authorities have not released any specific causes of the wildfire raging across Florida. While it is not known what may have sparked them, it is clear that the weather conditions have fueled them. High temperatures, low humidity levels, intense sunshine, dry brush and sandy soil have boosted the wildfire risk.
