A red flag warning is in effect for a broad swath of Central West Florida on Monday, as forecasters warn that a combination of dry air, low humidity and gusty northwest winds will create dangerous conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread quickly across the region.
The National Weather Service issued the warning Saturday, covering more than a dozen counties along the Gulf Coast and inland areas. It takes effect Monday at 9 a.m. and runs through 7 p.m.
Counties included in the warning span a wide stretch of the region, taking in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Charlotte and Lee counties.
What the red flag warning means for the region
A red flag warning is issued when extreme fire weather conditions are either already occurring or expected to develop in the near term. The combination of low humidity, warm temperatures and stronger winds creates an environment where a fire can ignite easily and move fast, sometimes faster than people can safely respond…