PANAMA CITY — A burn ban is in effect in Bay County as the area continues to dry out.
Bay County Emergency Services announced April 7 that a burn ban is now in place in Bay County.
“Due to dry conditions and anticipated high winds, any outdoor activity that could cause fires in Bay County is prohibited, effective immediately, in accordance with County Ordinance 25-16,” the agency wrote in a Facebook post. “The ban prohibits activities such as open burning; the sale or use of fireworks; lawn, debris or trash burning; improper disposal of matches or cigarettes; and any outdoor activity that could cause sparks or flames.”
The agency wrote that there is an exception for the use of charcoal or gas grills for cooking.
“Illegal activities may result in penalties of a fine not to exceed $500 or a jail term of no more than 60 days or both,” the agency wrote. “Each day the violation exists is a separate offense or violation.”
They warn that violators can be subject to civil penalties.
This applies to unincorporated Bay County. Other municipalities, such as Panama City, have their own ordinances in place that prohibit outdoor burning.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said April 7 that the area is under a red-flag warning.
“Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly,” the NWS said. “Outdoor burning is highly discouraged.”
The warnings come as low humidity is met by wind gusts of between 25 and 30 mph. The Florida Forest Service puts Bay County’s fire potential at “moderate” levels.
Drought persists in northwest Florida
The April 2 U.S. Drought Monitor update shows that Bay County and surrounding counties are experiencing extreme drought conditions. This is the second-highest drought category. Meanwhile, exceptional drought, the highest drought category, has crept into neighboring Calhoun and Jackson counties.
“Streamflows remain exceptionally low for this time of year even with recent rainfall,” an NWS meteorologist in Tallahassee wrote in the most recent drought update. “Surface and groundwater levels are exceptionally low. Even with the recent rain, reports indicate that holding ponds and lakes remain very low or dry in some areas.”
The meteorologists say that as planting season begins, farmers will be drawing more water from wells for irrigation, which could further stress the water table.
This follows a state of emergency issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis because of the drought and a water shortage warning issued by the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Although above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation are likely during the next month, the Climate Prediction Center anticipates slightly above-normal precipitation in the next three months.
Similarly, the CPC predicts that drought conditions will persist throughout the next month but likely improve over the season.
Dry conditions along the Gulf Coast and in the Southeast have largely been caused by a La Niña weather pattern. There’s a 55% chance of an ENSO-neutral system emerging over the next month, according to the CPC, which could bring more normal precipitation amounts to our area.
An El Niño has a 62% chance of emerging between June and August, which could mean more precipitation and a potentially quieter hurricane season.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County announces burn ban as drought and fire conditions worsen
Reporting by Dylan Gentile, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
