TAMPA, Fla. – The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin has officially placed a large swath of West Central and Southwest Florida under a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday, April 21.
Forecasters are warning of “critically low humidity with gusty winds” that will create a moderate but significant fire potential across nearly twenty counties.
Residents from Sumter down through Lee County should prepare for a dangerous combination of dry air and high-speed winds. According to the 1:56 PM alert issued Monday, relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 31 percent.
When paired with eastern winds moving at 10 to 20 mph—and gusts reaching up to 30 mph—the landscape becomes a prime environment for wildfires.
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The warning is scheduled to remain in effect from 11 AM until 8 PM Tuesday. The affected areas include both coastal and inland sections of Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties, as well as Sumter, Pinellas, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, and DeSoto.
“Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly,” the National Weather Service stated in the report. Because of these conditions, officials have issued a firm recommendation against any outdoor burning.
A Red Flag Warning is the highest level of weather-related fire alert. It signifies that critical conditions are either happening or imminent.
As the NWS explained, “A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”
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