Red Flag Warning Issued for East Central Florida Counties Including Greater Orlando

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Melbourne, FL, has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of East Central Florida. This alert is triggered by a combination of low relative humidity and gusty northwest breezes, creating elevated to critical fire danger. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Monday.

Affected Areas

The warning and watch cover the following regions in East Central Florida:

• Inland and Coastal Volusia County
• Northern and Southern Lake County
• Orange County
• Seminole County
• Osceola County

This includes Greater Orlando and points along and north of Interstate 4.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly under these conditions. Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A Fire Weather Watch suggests that these conditions are forecast to occur; residents should listen for later forecasts and possible updates to the warnings.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: Northwest winds around 15 mph with gusts reaching up to 30 mph on Sunday. On Monday, gusts of 20 to 25 mph are expected.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels will drop to between 30 and 45 percent on Sunday and further decrease to between 20 and 30 percent on Monday.
• Hazards: The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective from 3:00 PM Sunday, February 22, until 12:00 AM EST Monday, February 23.
• Fire Weather Watch: In effect throughout Monday, February 23, for continued low humidity and gusty northwest breezes.