Latest news with #WigginsFire
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Storms aren't helping Florida's driest counties. See latest count of wildfires
The number of wildfires burning in Florida is continuing to climb, with most rainfall over the weekend and Monday morning falling on counties not suffering drought conditions. Monday morning, April 7, there were 54 wildfires burning in Florida, up from 49 April 4, according to the Florida Forest Service, affecting 1,333 acres. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location The largest fire is the Wiggins Fire, burning 250 acres in Collier County. The fire is 95% contained. The average statewide drought index increased to 356 Sunday, up sharply from 313 last week. The driest conditions continue across South and Southwest Florida. Highlights of some of the wildfires burning in Florida: Wiggins Fire: Collier County. 250 acres. 95% contained. Pretty Pine Fire: Polk County. 125 acres. 90% contained. Walker Road Fire: Polk County. 60 acres. 70% contained. Packinghouse Road Fire: Hillsborough County. 55 acres. 80% contained. Tram Road Fire. Bay County. 47 acres. 80% contained. Alcoy Road Fire: Duval County. 40 acres. 75% 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." There is some rain falling in Florida today, April 7, as storms move across the Panhandle ahead of a cold front. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms can be expected across North Florida Monday and the northern and central peninsula Monday night, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Activity will weaken but persist across Central and South Florida on Tuesday, with a 45% to 75% chance of rain. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms may persist across South Florida and the Keys Tuesday night. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida jumped to 356 Sunday, up 11 points from Saturday, April 5. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry. As of Sunday, April 6, there were 13 Florida counties with a mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger. Broward: 585 Charlotte: 555 Collier: 592 DeSoto: 511 Glades: 541 Hardee: 550 Hendry: 584 Lake: 523 Lee: 591 Manatee: 547 Miami-Dade: 543 Monroe: 541 Palm Beach: 572 Sarasota: 544 Sumter: 507 Another 14 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s. 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 Western Panhandle, Pensacola: The cold front has cleared all but the far southeastern counties by 4 a.m. CDT. No more flash flood warnings remain in effect. About another quarter inch of rain possible. Highs in the low to mid 60s. Lows tonight low to upper 40s. Panhandle, Tallahassee: Isolated strong to severe storms. Damaging winds and a few tornadoes remain the primary threats. Localized flash flooding possible. Highs in mid 70s to low 80s. Lows in the mid 40s to low 50. North Florida, Jacksonville: Strong to isolated severe thunderstorms ahead of a cold front. Highs around 90. Lows in upper 50s. East central Florida: Near record heat expected again today, with breezy/windy conditions forecast. Showers and isolated storms will be possible into tonight into Tuesday. Highs around 90. Lows in mid 60s. South Florida: Thunderstorms possible Tuesday. Highs in upper 80s to low 90s. Lows in mid 70s. Southwest Florida: Severe weather could include isolated tornadoes, heavy rain, damaging winds. Highs around 80. Lows in upper 60s. 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 Naples Daily News: Florida brush fires increase as storms skip counties under drought
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires increase around Florida as drought conditions worsen. Where they are, what to know
The number of wildfires burning in Florida is climbing again. After a brief downward trend earlier in the week, the numbers have been climbing. Friday morning, April 4, there were 49 fires, up from 44 on Thursday, according to the Florida Forest Service. More than 28,000 acres have been affected. ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location The 344 Fire in South Florida is finally 100 percent contained, after closing the limited number of roads to the Florida Keys and burning almost 27,000 acres since mid-March. The average statewide drought index increased Thursday to 313 to 303, with the driest conditions continuing across South and Southwest Florida. Highlights of some of the wildfires burning in Florida Friday morning: 344 Fire: Miami-Dade County. Burned 26,719 acres. 100% contained. Wiggins Fire: Collier County. Burned 250 acres. 50% contained. Red Horse Fire: Polk County. Burned 390 acres. 95% contained. Pretty Pine Fire: Polk County. Burned 125 acres. 90% 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." "Well-above normal high temperatures" can be expected each afternoon into Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. "With the help of high pressure and dry conditions, high temperatures will reach the middle to upper 80s and lower 90s each afternoon. Typically, across North Florida, these are not temperatures we see for at least another three to four weeks on average, so there is a chance for record-breaking temperatures." The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida jumped to 324 Thursday, up from 313 Wednesday. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry. As of Thursday, April 3, there were 13 Florida counties with a mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger. Broward: 570 Charlotte: 536 Collier: 576 Glades: 523 Hardee: 532 Hendry: 569 Lake: 505 Lee: 575 Manatee: 528 Miami-Dade: 526 Monroe: 525 Palm Beach: 555 Sarasota: 525 Another 14 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s. Windy conditions, the lack of rain and relative humidity will combine to increase the potential for "locally elevated wildfire conditions" heading into the weekend, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management. 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 Pensacola, Panhandle: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service Mobile. Tallahassee: Today will be rather toasty with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s for most, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee. Beaches will remain dangerous with rough surf and potentially deadly rip currents! Jacksonville, North Florida: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville. East central Florida: Above-normal temperatures continue. Winds not quite as strong as yesterday, but gusty conditions are still expected again in the late morning and afternoon, especially along the coast after the sea breeze develops. A high risk of life-threatening rip currents continues, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne. South Florida: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with a southeast wind 18 to 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service Miami. Hazardous marine and beach conditions continue across Atlantic waters and east coast beaches. Southwest Florida: The warm and humid conditions continue today, with afternoon high temperatures expected to approach record levels each day through Monday, according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay. 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 Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida brush fires burn almost 28,000 acres. See map
