Red flag warnings issued in Florida. Where wildfires are causing smoke

• The drought in Florida is one of the worst in years, sparking almost 2,000 wildfires and burning more than 120,000 acres since Jan. 1.
• Red flag warnings have been issued for 13 counties.
• See where current wildfires are burning in Florida.

A line of storms could bring a little relief from drought conditions in the western Panhandle and Big Bend, that's not the case for the eastern coast of Florida.

Some of the storms could be strong, prompting tornado watches to be issued for several counties.

Elsewhere, the National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for 13 counties on May 7.

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The drought in Florida is one of the worst in years, impacting almost 18 million residents, sparking almost 2,000 wildfires and burning more than 120,000 acres since Jan. 1.

National Weather Service issues red flag warnings for parts of Florida

Red flag warnings were issued for 13 Florida counties May 7:

• Brevard
• Clay
• Duval
• Flagler
• Lake
• Marion
• Nassau
• Orange
• Osceola
• Putnam
• St. Johns
• Seminole
• Volusia

What is a red flag warning?

A red flag warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.

Factors considered to issue a red flag warning include a combination of:

• strong winds
• low relative humidity
• warm temperatures

Where are wildfires in Florida today, May 7?

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, between Jan. 1 and May 7 in Florida:

• Acres burned: 120,515
• Number of wildfires: 1,980

Burn bans in effect in 49 Florida counties

Burn bans are in effect in 49 of Florida's 67 counties, as of May 6, according to the Florida Forest Service.

What is a burn ban?

The Florida Forest Service tries combines all county-enacted burn bans on its website.

A burn ban typically prohibits the outside burning of yard trash and vegetation, as well as campfires, bonfires and burn barrels, but can vary by county.

➤ Current Florida fire danger map

Burn bans are issued when there's a high risk for wildfires and include such conditions as:

• prolonged drought
• low humidity
• high winds, or
• high Keetch-Byram Drought Index

What is the Keetch-Byram Drought Index?

The Florida Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service use the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to measure the risk of wildfires based on soil moisture, how dry fuel is, and precipitation.

The scale ranges from 0 to 800, with 0 indicating saturated soil and 800 representing extreme drought with a high potential for "intense, deep-burning fires."

Are any roads closed due to smoke?

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at 7:30 a.m. May 7, no roads have been closed due to wildfires but smoke could impact visibility in some areas:

• Lafayette County: Heavy smoke reported at North Fletcher Avenue and East Main Street near Mayo.
• Alachua County: Visibility reduced to about 100 feet at State Road 25 and Southwest 104th Avenue near Micanopy.
  • Light smoke reported at U.S. 301 and Southeast 1122nd Lane near Hawthorne.
• Hernando County: Smoke reported near southeast I-75 at mile marker 295 near Brooksville. Use caution.

Current drought conditions in Florida

The U.S. Drought Monitor on April 28 provided the following breakdown on drought conditions in Florida:

Drought and dryness categories: 98.7% of Florida

• Abnormally dry: 1.3%
• Moderate drought: 6.3%
• Severe drought: 13.8%
• Extreme drought: 53.5%
• Exceptional drought: 23.0%

Total area in drought: 98.7 %, impacting 17.9 million Florida residents.

Interactive map: Enter your address to find closest wildfire risks

Will it rain anytime soon in Florida? See the radar

How can you conserve water while it's dry in Florida?

Here are some suggestions from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida's water management districts on how you can save water both inside and outside your home:

Inside

• Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.
• Check faucets and pipes for leaks.
• Use your dishwasher and washing machine only for full loads.
• Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads.
• Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal units.
• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
• Scrape, don’t rinse your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.

Outside

• Add mulch to reduce evaporation.
• Harvest rain to water flower beds, herb gardens and potted plants.
• Choose native plants adapted to the area and needing less water.
• Check hose and sprinkler connections for leaks.
• On slopes, plant native species that will retain water and help reduce runoff.
• Irrigate your lawn with reclaimed water.
  • To find out if reclaimed water is available in your neighborhood, contact your utility company.
• Do not water the lawn in rainy weather.
• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle when washing the car.

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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.