Red flag warnings possible today as several Florida counties feel drought, face fire threat
Recent rain ahead of another cold front is helping reduce the number of wildfires around Florida, but the driest areas of the state are still experiencing a severe drought.
That's not good since Florida's peak wildfire season typically occurs in April, May, and June, according to Wilton Simpson, Florida commissioner of agriculture.
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Gusty winds, dry air and low relative humidity could bring red flag warnings Thursday afternoon through the central Florida peninsula, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
Thursday morning, there were 33 wildfires burning, down from 37 Wednesday, according to the Florida Forest Service. Since January, over 1,000 wildfires have burned over 51,000 acres in Florida, Simpson said.
The average statewide drought index remained the same Wednesday as it was on Tuesday, 341.
A red flag warning is issued when "critical fire weather conditions" are in place.
"A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger," the National Weather Service said.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the largest wildfires burning in Florida as of April 4 were (data is updated every Friday):
East Marsh Fire: One mile west of DeLand. 3,777 acres. 80% contained.
Fernadez Fire: Four miles northeast of Lake Kathryn. 565 acres. 80% contained.
Red Horse Fire: Fire started on private land seven miles northwest of Bowling Green. 390 acres. 95% contained.
"Wildfire names are generally based on the geographic location of the fire or a nearby geographic feature," according to Tim Brown, communications manager with the Florida Forest Service in an email.
"For example, the '344 Fire' was due to its location near 344 Street."
Forecast for Thursday, April 10:
Pensacola: Sunny. High 75. Low 62.
Tallahassee: Sunny. High 81. Low 58.
Jacksonville: A slight chance of showers before 7 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 11 a.m. Partly sunny. High 76. Low 60.
Daytona Beach: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10 a.m. Mostly sunny. High 76. Low 60.
Melbourne: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10 a.m. Mostly sunny. High 78. Low 62.
Port St. Lucie: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny. High 79. Low 61.
West Palm Beach: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny. High 76. Low 70.
Naples: Sunny. High 81. Low 65.
Fort Myers: Sunny. High 84. Low 63.
Sarasota: Sunny. High 76. Low 66.
Orlando: Mostly sunny. High 80. Low 61.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida was 341 Wednesday, the same as it was on Tuesday. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry.
Dry conditions on the weekend, combined with falling relative humidity is expected to bring "sensitive to locally elevated wildfire conditions" throughout the state Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
As of Wednesday, April 9, there were 16 Florida counties with a mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger.
Broward: 519, a substantial drop from 594 Tuesday
Charlotte: 557, up 2 from Tuesday
Collier: 583, down slightly from 583
DeSoto: 516, up 1
Glades: 545, remained the same
Hardee: 558, up 2
Hendry: 591, remained the same
Lake: 533, up 2
Lee: 597, remained the same
Manatee: 542, up 2
Miami-Dade: 523, a substantial drop from 553 Tuesday
Monroe: 542, down 8
Palm Beach: 570, down 10
Pasco: 510, up 4
Sarasota: 550, up 3
Sumter: 518, up 3
Another 13 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s.
Five counties are within 25 points of hitting 500:
Highlands: 482
Hillsborough: 485
Martin: 489
Polk: 477
Volusia: 497
According to the Florida Forest Service, burn bans are in place for the following counties:
Charlotte
Collier
Glades
Hendry
Highlands
Lake
Sarasota
The open burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties:
Duval
Hillsborough
Orange
Pinellas
Early Friday, a weak cold front is expected to bring some showers to portions of the state. A few locally strong thunderstorms capable of small hail can't be ruled out, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
By Saturday morning, the front will push offshore, bringing mostly dry conditions and elevated wildfire conditions to the state.
High temperatures will reach the middle to upper 70s across North Florida and lower to middle80s across Central and South Florida on Friday.
Slightly cooler conditions will keep high temperatures in the lower 70s across North Florida, middle to upper 70s across Central Florida and upper 70s and lower 80s across South Florida Saturday afternoon.
Low temperatures will fall into the upper 40s to lower 50s across North Florida and middle 50s to middle 60s across Central and South Florida Friday night.
By Saturday night low temperatures will fall into the 40s again across North Florida, 50s throughout interior Central and South Florida and middle 50s to lower 60s across coastal Central and South Florida.
We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida red flag warnings. Active wildfires, dry weather forecast
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