Red flag warning issued for most Tampa Bay counties

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Weather Service issued a red flag warnings for many Tampa bay counties on Tuesday.

Red flag warnings are used to indicate weather conditions that increase the risk of fires spreading, like high winds and low humidity.

Affected counties: Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Hillsborough, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota and Manatee

As of around 2:45 p.m., the warning was set to expire at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

In addition to a sharp drop in temperatures, Tampa Bay is experiencing much lower humidity than usual, only around 26-27% and wind speeds between 10 and 15 mph. Some areas, including Hardee, Highlands, Manatee and Sarasota counties, could see wind gusts of up to 25 mph.

Officials are discouraging any outdoor burning, and warning that any fires could catch and spread rapidly.

Residents in the affected counties are asked to be extra careful with cigarettes, grills or any kind of open flame or spark. It’s also recommended to keep vehicles off dry grass.

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