May 6, 2026, 8:22 a.m. ET
- Fire weather watches issued for 13 Florida counties May 6.
- Across Central and South Florida, highs will remain in the lower to middle 90s with afternoon feels-like temperatures reaching the upper 90s to 100 degrees.
- See rain chances this week and into the weekend.
A fire weather watch was issued May 6 for several Florida counties.
Some rain associated with the arrival of a cold front in North Florida May 7 could help extreme drought conditions in that area, but elsewhere, expect “summertime heat” across Florida during the week, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
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Temperatures could reach “some of the warmest values we’ve seen yet this year,” FDEM said, with high temps expected to linger into the weekend.
Across Central and South Florida, highs will remain in the lower to middle 90s with afternoon feels-like temperatures reaching the upper 90s to 100 degrees, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Map: Florida fire weather watch issued for 13 Florida counties
A fire weather watch was issued May 7 for 13 Florida counties:
- Brevard
- Clay
- Duval
- Flagler
- Lake
- Marion
- Nassau
- Orange
- Osceola
- Putnam
- St. Johns
- Seminole
- Volusia
What is a fire weather watch?
A fire weather watch means critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur, according to the National Weather Service.
Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Where are wildfires burning in Florida right now?
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, between Jan. 1 and May 3 in Florida:
- Acres burned: 120,515
- Number of wildfires: 1,980
Current drought conditions in Florida
“98% of Florida remains in at least a severe drought, with 25% of the state (eastern Panhandle toSuwannee Valley) in an exceptional drought.
“This is the highest percentage area of drought since the U.S Drought Monitor was created in 2000,” according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
The U.S. Drought Monitor on April 28 provided the following breakdown on how bad the drought is in Florida:
Drought and dryness categories: % of Florida
- Abnormally dry: 1.3%
- Moderate drought: 6.3%
- Severe drought: 13.8%
- Extreme drought: 53.5%
- Exceptional drought: 25.0%
Total area in drought: 98.7%, impacting 17.9 million Florida residents.
Burn bans in effect in 49 Florida counties
Burn bans are in effect in 49 of Florida’s 67 counties, as of May 5, 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:
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.”
Will it rain in Florida soon?
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead of and along a cold front that is anticipated to stall across North-Central Florida beginning May 7 and into the weekend, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Rainfall totals are expected to be greatest across the Panhandle and Big Bend region, reaching 1 to 3 inches in mostlocations. Areas that see repeated rounds of locally heavy downpours could see totals of 4 to 5 inches or more.
Interactive map: Enter your address to find closest wildfire risks
Watch National Weather Service radar to see where storms are right now
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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What’s next?
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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://news-journalonline.com/newsletters.
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