JACKSONVILLE — The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning covering 19 inland Northeast Florida fire weather zones Tuesday, warning that relative humidity as low as 21 percent, temperatures up to 85 degrees and northeast winds gusting to 25 mph create conditions for wildfires to spread rapidly and resist containment.
The warning, issued by NWS Jacksonville, runs from 11 a.m. through 8 p.m. and spans Baker, Union, Bradford, Gilchrist and Columbia counties as well as inland portions of Nassau, Clay, Alachua, Putnam, Marion and Duval counties. Sustained northeast winds of 12 to 18 mph with gusts to 25 mph are expected throughout the afternoon.
“Existing or newly ignited wildfires may exhibit erratic fire behavior, spread rapidly and become difficult to contain or suppress,” the NWS warned in the alert text. The agency noted that the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures “can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”
South Florida faces its own fire risk. NWS Miami issued a Fire Weather Watch for Collier, Glades and Hendry counties — including Big Cypress and the Lakes Region — effective from 11 a.m. through the evening. Conditions there include northeast winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, relative humidity as low as 34 percent and temperatures up to 83 degrees. The watch covers eight fire weather zones across the four-county area.
Separately, NWS Miami posted a High Surf Advisory for Coastal Palm Beach County through 8 p.m. Tuesday, with breaking waves of 6 to 8 feet expected in the surf zone. A high rip current risk remains in effect through Wednesday morning. The agency warned that dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are likely, and that rip currents “can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”
The Red Flag Warning for Northeast Florida is set to expire at 8 p.m. Tuesday, though forecasters cautioned residents to listen for updated forecasts and possible extensions. The Palm Beach County High Surf Advisory and rip current risk continue through Wednesday morning.