Published on April 21, 2026 at 11:02 am
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A cold front has pushed across the peninsula, and winds picked up across North and Central Florida on Monday evening, increasing the risk of fires.
Winds will remain strong Tuesday, coming mainly from the north-northeast, and will also increase across South Florida.
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Local National Weather Service offices across the state have issued red flag warnings, which, as of Monday evening, have expanded across much of the peninsula — from North Florida through Central Florida and into Southwest Florida.
Collier and Hendry counties were not under a red flag warning as of Monday evening, indicating a critical fire danger. The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch, stating there is a risk of erratic fire behavior through 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Red flag warnings are in effect across the Tampa Bay area and surrounding regions, through the Interstate 95 corridor and North Florida, at least until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
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Winds will be strong across Florida, with gusts exceeding 20 mph. Vegetation is extremely dry, with much of the state experiencing severe drought conditions.
Adding to this dangerous setup, the cold front has brought very dry air into the region, resulting in low humidity levels that have triggered the red flag warnings. Humidity levels are below 35% for much of the afternoon.
RELATED: Live tracking Florida’s wildfires
Any fires that start have a high potential to become erratic and spread quickly. Avoid outdoor burning at all costs; make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished; and avoid parking over dry vegetation, as hot tailpipes can easily ignite fires.
The following weather conditions will prompt the issuance of a red flag warning:
- In North Florida (National Weather Service offices in Mobile, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville): relative humidity below 28% and wind speeds greater than 15 mph and an Energy Release Component (Fuel Model G) of 26 or higher.
- In Peninsular Florida (National Weather Service offices in the Tampa Bay area, Melbourne, Miami and Key West): relative humidity below 35%, wind speeds greater than 15 mph and an Energy Release Component (Fuel Model G) of 27 or higher.
Residents must do their part to prevent wildfires. Many areas in Florida remain under burn bans, especially in Central and North Florida, where some residents still practice burning trash and other materials, such as old documents.
Please be aware of any burn bans in your area and local weather conditions that could aid the spread of fires.
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