Florida, Georgia Fire Weather Watch | Effective 04/17/2026 11:19

...Critical Fire Weather coming up from Saturday through Monday... .Critical fire weather conditions are coming up from Saturday through Monday, with the most critical conditions expected on Monday. On Saturday, a Fire Weather Watch is in effect for portions of the Florida Big Bend and east of the Flint River in Georgia, where RH will tank to near or below 30 percent, wind will exceed 12 mph, where dispersion will exceed 100, temperatures WILL reach 88-92 degrees (within a few degrees of record highs), and where the Hot Dry Windy Index exceeds the 90th percentile at a time of year when its climatology is already nearing its annual peak in early May. A dry cold front on Sunday will bring northerly afternoon wind gusts of 20-25 mph, and RH will be dropping in the afternoon as a drier air mass arrives. Lingering cloud cover and shading of fuels will be the main inhibitor to active fire behavior on Sunday. On Monday, a very dry air mass will overspread the region, with Min RH commonly in the 15-20 percent range. Sustained northeast winds will be near 15 mph, supporting extremely high dispersion. Full sunshine, seasonably warm late April temperatures, and ongoing drought will all contribute to a critical fire environment. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Monday where winds are currently forecast to exceed 15 mph, and the watch could be expanded in later forecast updates. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Fire Weather Watch, which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Florida fire weather zones 010, 011, 012, 014, 015, 028, 029, 034, 112, 114, 115, 118, 127, 128, and 134. Georgia fire weather zones 143, 144, and 155. * WIND...Northeast near 15 mph, with gusts near 25 mph. * HUMIDITY...15-20 percent, followed by poor humidity recovery on Monday night. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.