Red Flag Warning Issued for East Central Florida Counties Through Thursday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a Red Flag Warning for east central Florida. This alert is triggered by a combination of low humidity and gusty southwest winds, which create a high fire danger across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Counties: Southern Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee.
• Specific Zones: Okeechobee, Coastal and Inland Indian River, Coastal and Inland St. Lucie, Coastal and Inland Martin, and all sections of Southern Brevard including Inland, Mainland, and the Barrier Islands.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should exercise extreme caution. Outdoor burning is not recommended as any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should prepare for the possibility of extreme fire behavior.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: Southwest winds at 15 mph with gusts reaching between 20 and 25 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels will drop to approximately 35 percent.
• Hazards: The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to heightened fire risk.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective as of 10:31 AM EST and is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:00 PM EST this evening, February 26, 2026.