WWUS82 KTBW 230438
RFWTBW

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
1138 PM EST Sun Feb 22 2026

...CRITICALLY LOW HUMIDITY WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN
ELEVATED FIRE DANGER...

.The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a Fire Weather
Warning for low humidity, breezy northerly winds, and moderate
significant fire potential expected Sunday afternoon.

FLZ043-052-056-057-061-139-142-239-242-248-249-251-262-265-240000-
/O.UPG.KTBW.FW.A.0001.260223T1400Z-260224T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.FW.W.0002.260223T1400Z-260224T0000Z/
Sumter-Polk-Hardee-Highlands-DeSoto-Coastal Levy-Coastal Citrus-
Inland Levy-Inland Citrus-Inland Hernando-Inland Pasco-
Inland Hillsborough-Inland Charlotte-Inland Lee-
1138 PM EST Sun Feb 22 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 7 PM EST MONDAY FOR
PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA...

The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin has issued a Red
Flag Warning, which is in effect from 9 AM to 7 PM EST Monday.
The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Sumter, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto,
  Coastal Levy, Coastal Citrus, Inland Levy, Inland Citrus,
  Inland Hernando, Inland Pasco, Inland Hillsborough, Inland
  Charlotte and Inland Lee.

* TIMING...From 9 AM to 7 PM EST Monday.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 dry fuels can contribute
to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

FLZ050-148-149-151-155-160-162-165-255-260-240000-
/O.CON.KTBW.FW.A.0001.260223T1400Z-260224T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hernando-Coastal Pasco-Coastal Hillsborough-
Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
Inland Manatee-Inland Sarasota-
1138 PM EST Sun Feb 22 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST MONDAY
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA...

* AFFECTED AREA...Pinellas, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Pasco,
  Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota,
  Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Lee, Inland Manatee and Inland
  Sarasota.

* TIMING...From 9 AM EST Monday through Monday evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 38 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
  quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$