ORLANDO, Fla. – After a breezy Monday across Central Florida, conditions are setting up for a heightened fire risk on Tuesday, especially inland.
A cold front sliding south has ushered in drier air and gusty northeast winds, and that combination is creating very sensitive to critical fire weather conditions. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for interior counties from late Tuesday morning through the afternoon, where winds around 15 - 20 mph and lower humidity levels will make it easier for fires to start and spread quickly. Even along the coast, where humidity may stay just above critical thresholds, conditions will still be very sensitive due to stronger winds.
Any fire that develops could become difficult to control, so it will be important to use extra caution with anything that could spark a flame.
A few isolated showers south of Melbourne will fade this evening, leaving behind a quieter but still breezy night. Overnight lows will fall into the low to mid 60s, with winds remaining elevated along the coast.
Tuesday will stay breezy with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and gusts approaching 25 mph at times. Temperatures over the next few days will run a bit cooler than normal, with highs generally in the low 80s. The average high for this time of year is 84 degrees, and Orlando only reached 80 degrees today, highlighting that slightly cooler trend.
At the coast, beach conditions remain dangerous as strong onshore winds continue to build rough surf and increase the risk of rip currents. Entering the water will be hazardous, and it is safest to stay near a lifeguard if you plan to be at the beach.
Boating conditions are also a concern. Northeast winds of 20 - 25 knots and seas building to 7 - 10 feet are creating hazardous conditions for mariners, with Small Craft Advisories in effect. These poor conditions will linger into Tuesday before gradually improving later in the week.
Looking ahead, the overall pattern begins to settle down slightly by midweek as winds ease, but there is still no significant rain in the forecast. By the weekend, temperatures will climb, with highs nearing 90 degrees and just a small chance for a few isolated showers.
Until then, the biggest concerns remain the elevated fire danger across inland areas Tuesday, along with rough surf at the beaches and hazardous conditions on the water.