Be careful if you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Central Florida this evening, as the National Weather Service in Melbourne has replaced their fire weather watch with a red flag warning.
Red Flag Warning for Central Florida
The red flag warning means there is high fire danger for the area. Critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will occur due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.
The warning is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. ET on Monday, March 17. It’s in place for much of east Central Florida, including Orange and Osceola counties, where Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort are located. Other affected counties are Volusia, Lake, Seminole, Brevard, Okeechobee, Indian River, Saint Lucie, and Martin.
Wind will blow west to northwest at 15 to 20 mph. Gusts could reach up to 30 mph. Humidity is 25 to 35 percent. Any fires to develop will likely spread rapidly.
The National Weather Service warns against outdoor burning, which includes grilling and campfires.
On March 5, the NWS similarly issued a fire weather watch and then upgraded it to a red flag warning.
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