GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – First Alert weather conditions will be present on Monday, April 20.
WHAT: Dry and breezy conditions.
- As the cool front moves in, northerly breezes could reach up to 25 miles per hour on Monday.
- North Central Florida has been in an extreme to exceptional drought, the highest levels.
WHY: Fires can easily start and spread during arid and windy weather.
- Vegetation and soil can be drier than usual due to below-average rainfall for the past few months.
- Wind gusts fan the flames, aiding the spread of fire.
WHEN: Monday, April 20, 2026
- The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for Monday between 1PM and 9PM.
- The local environment will be dry beyond Monday, as the drought continues without meaningful rainfall.
There have been several fires in North Central Florida this weekend. A more than 75-acre one in Gainesville, one in Osceola National Forest in Columbia County, and another in Belleview.
Read TV20’s latest drought update here…