The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for 31 of Florida’s 67 counties.
The warnings extend from the Panhandle and North Florida into north central Florida.
Farther south, a fire weather watch extends from Daytona Beach across the state and as far south as Bonita Springs.
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Drought conditions continue to impact 99% of the state. More than 100 wildfires were burning almost 12,000 acres on April 20.
Here’s what it means when there’s a red flag warning and fire weather watch.
Weather alerts issued in Florida
What is a red flag warning?
A red flag warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will happen within the next 24 hours.
➤ More than 100 wildfires burning in Florida. See locations, road conditions
The criteria used to issue a red flag warning differs by state, the National Weather Service said.
In Florida, the criteria include:
Fire risks increase under red flag warning
The combination of conditions as mentioned above “results in an increased risk for a wildland fire or rapid-fire growth if an incident were to occur,” according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Red flag warning safety tips
Here’s what you can do to reduce the chance for wildfires while under a red flag warning, according to IFAC.org:
What is a fire weather watch?
A fire weather watch means critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur within the next 24 to 48 hours, according to the National Weather Service.
Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Burn bans in effect across Florida
County-enacted burn bans were in effect for 31 of Florida’s 67 counties as of April 20.
A burn ban typically prohibits the outside burning of yard trash and vegetation, as well as campfires, bonfires and burn barrels, but can vary by county.
Burn bans are issued when there’s a high risk for wildfires and include such conditions as:
Current drought conditions in Florida
The U.S. Drought Monitor on April 14 (the latest date with data available) provided the following breakdown on how bad the drought is in Florida:
Drought and dryness categories: 99% of Florida
Total area in drought: 99%, impacting 18.1 million Florida residents.
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What’s next?
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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tcpalm.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Red flag warning issued for 31 Florida counties. What’s it mean?
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
