Red Flag Warning Issued for Florida Big Bend Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Florida Big Bend region. The alert was triggered by a very dry airmass and gusty winds moving into the area following a cold frontal passage. These conditions, combined with dry fuels from an ongoing drought, create a significant risk for extreme fire behavior.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions and fire weather zones:

• Inland Areas: Franklin, Leon, Jefferson, Wakulla, Taylor, and Dixie counties.
• Coastal Areas: Franklin, Jefferson, Wakulla, Taylor, and Dixie counties.
• Additional Regions: Madison, Lafayette, and Southern Liberty.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised that outdoor burning is not recommended. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly due to the environmental conditions. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should prepare for potential fire hazards and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to reach critical thresholds on Sunday afternoon:

• Wind: Northwest winds of 16 to 22 mph are expected, with gusts reaching between 25 and 30 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 25 percent.
• Hazardous Factors: The combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will act upon dry fuels from the ongoing drought to facilitate rapid fire growth.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST on Sunday, February 22, 2026.