From 80s to freezing: Florida faces cold blast, growing fire danger
A strong cold front will end Florida’s run of 80-degree heat, bringing a freeze threat to parts of the state and fueling heightened wildfire danger amid dry, windy conditions.
Fast-moving brush fires have torn through bone-dry vegetation across Florida this February.
Sweeping changes are coming to Florida as near-record heat has been swapped by much colder air this weekend. An ongoing lack of rain, some wind and dry brush will raise the risk of wildfires once again.
Cold blast to end the warmth
Orlando, Jacksonville and other communities across northern Florida were close to record highs Saturday, with temperatures climbing well into the 80s.
A couple of showers and thunderstorms that trailed the cold front in central and southern Florida Sunday did little to ease the dry conditions.
Behind the front, gusty northwest winds ushered in a big cooldown and quickly dried out any dampened brush once again.
The coldest stretch in the front’s wake will occur from Monday night into Tuesday morning. Temperatures will dip below freezing from north of Orlando into the Florida Panhandle, which should prompt home gardeners and agricultural interests to cover sensitive plants or bring them indoors. A light frost is possible Tuesday morning across interior central Florida, but it is not expected to impact the citrus crop.
In the coldest spots in the early morning, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures could dip into the 20s.
Visitors to the theme parks around Orlando should dress in layers from Sunday evening through Tuesday. As the front pushes south toward Miami, high temperatures will trend downward from the 80s on Sunday into the 60s by Monday.
Fire risk returns
Dry northwest winds will allow a fire threat to expand across much of southern Florida Monday. The greatest threat for wildfires to occur will be across central and eastern Florida, including Interstate 95, on Monday. The elevated fire risk comes less than a week after a brush fire destroyed a plant nursery in Kissimmee, Florida.
The use of open flames, power equipment or anything that may produce sparks and burning embers is strongly discouraged through Tuesday, experts advise. Cigarette butts should be properly extinguished.
The fire risk will be exacerbated by an intensifying drought.
The second-highest drought category, extreme drought, has expanded by 62% across Florida over the past month. Through Feb. 19, Jacksonville is experiencing its 18th-driest start to the year on record with 1.75 inches of rain, while Orlando is having its 13th-driest start with 1.14 inches. Meanwhile, more than 60% of Louisiana and 23% of Mississippi are in a drought.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, a key indicator of wildfire potential, is high across most of the state and in the very high to extreme category across southern Florida.
Drought to persist later this week
The winds will relax on Tuesday, easing the fire threat a bit, but the humidity will remain low, so extra care should still be exercised.
Wednesday will be somewhat more humid, which should significantly reduce the fire risk. However, meaningful rain is not expected until late this week or next weekend, allowing the drought to continue full-throttle.
The fire risk is not expected to ease anytime soon. A higher-than-average brush fire risk is expected in Florida throughout the spring season, according to AccuWeather's long-range team of meteorologists.
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