GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – First Alert weather conditions will be present through Tuesday, April 21.
WHAT: Dry and breezy conditions = fire risk
- A cool front moved in, causing northerly breezes up to 25 miles per hour.
- 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 and Tuesday, April 21.
- The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning until 8PM on Tuesday, stating “A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.”
- The NWS previously issued a Fire Weather Watch.
- The local environment will be dry beyond Tuesday, as the drought continues without meaningful rainfall.
There have been several fires in North Central Florida this past 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…