Red Flag Warning Issued for West Central and Southwest Florida Through Monday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of West Central and Southwest Florida. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will develop shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels.

Affected Areas

The following geographic regions and counties are under the warning:

• Sumter, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, and DeSoto counties
• Coastal and Inland Levy
• Coastal and Inland Citrus
• Inland Hernando
• Inland Pasco
• Inland Hillsborough
• Inland Charlotte
• Inland Lee

What You Should Do

Outdoor burning is not recommended during this period. Residents should exercise extreme caution as any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Prepare for the possibility of extreme fire behavior and monitor local conditions closely.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions will be characterized by critically low humidity and breezy northerly winds:

• Winds: Northwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts reaching up to 25 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Dropping as low as 25 percent.
• Hazards: Moderate significant fire potential expected due to dry conditions.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST on Monday, February 23, 2026.