A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Orange and Osceola counties, home to Walt Disney World, on Tuesday, April 21, starting at 12:00 pm EDT.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued the watch, warning of conditions that could allow fires to spread rapidly across interior portions of east central Florida.
Conditions driving the watch include:
- Wind: Northeast to east-northeast winds of 15 to 20 mph, with frequent higher gusts
- Humidity: 28 to 35 percent - well below normal for the region
The combination of low humidity and gusty winds creates conditions where any fire that starts could spread quickly and be difficult to control.
The Fire Weather Watch covers:
- Orange
- Seminole
- Osceola
- Inland Volusia
- Northern Lake
- Southern Lake
- Okeechobee
If you're visiting Walt Disney World on Tuesday, the watch doesn't affect park operations, but outdoor conditions will be noticeably breezy and drier than usual.
The National Weather Service strongly recommends against outdoor burning in the affected area. Any open flames, including campfires or outdoor grills, should be avoided.
The watch runs through Tuesday afternoon. Conditions are expected to gradually improve as winds ease later in the week.
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