Alert archive / Georgia / Red Flag Warnings in 2026

Red Flag Warning 4, NWS Tallahassee, FL

April 7, 202617 counties in Georgia; 10 counties in Florida

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this red flag warning at Apr 7, 2026, 1:12 AM EDT for 17 counties in Georgia; 10 counties in Florida. It took effect at Apr 7, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 9 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 7, 2026, 1:12 AM EDT (05:12 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 7, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT
Expired
Apr 7, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
All 27 counties

Bay County, FL, Calhoun County, FL, Gadsden County, FL, Gulf County, FL, Holmes County, FL, Jackson County, FL, Leon County, FL, Liberty County, FL, Walton County, FL, Washington County, FL, Baker County, GA, Ben Hill County, GA, Berrien County, GA, Brooks County, GA, Colquitt County, GA, Cook County, GA, Decatur County, GA, Dougherty County, GA, Grady County, GA, Irwin County, GA, Miller County, GA, Mitchell County, GA, Seminole County, GA, Thomas County, GA, Tift County, GA, Turner County, GA, Worth County, GA

The radar

The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Jacksonville, FL (KJAX), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 265 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Jacksonville, FL at 00:00Z on 2026-04-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jacksonville, FL at 00:00Z on 2026-04-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -62 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
675 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

540 
WWUS82 KTAE 070512
RFWTAE

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
112 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026

FLZ027-GAZ160-161-070615-
/O.CAN.KTAE.FW.A.0002.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
Inland Wakulla-Lowndes-Lanier-
112 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW
HUMIDITY FOR LOWNDES, LANIER, AND INLAND WAKULLA COUNTIES...

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has cancelled the
Fire Weather Watch. 

It now looks like relative humidity will stay too high to justify
upgrading the Fire Weather Watch. Therefore, the watch is
cancelled. However, it will be windy and gusty today, so please
delay outdoor burning until a less windy day.

$$

FLZ008>014-016-017-112-326-426-GAZ125-127>131-143>148-155>159-
071900-
/O.UPG.KTAE.FW.A.0002.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTAE.FW.W.0004.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
Central Walton-Holmes-Washington-Jackson-Inland Bay-Calhoun-
Inland Gulf-Gadsden-Leon-Coastal Bay-Northern Liberty-
Southern Liberty-Dougherty-Worth-Turner-Tift-Ben Hill-Irwin-
Miller-Baker-Mitchell-Colquitt-Cook-Berrien-Seminole-Decatur-
Grady-Thomas-Brooks-
112 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026 /1212 AM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM EDT /10 AM CDT/ THIS
MORNING TO 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND
LOW HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND THE EASTERN
FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM EDT /10 AM CDT/ this
morning to 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ this evening. The Fire Weather
Watch is no longer in effect. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Florida fire weather zones 008, 014, 016, 017,
  112, 326, and 426. Georgia fire weather zones 125, 127, 128,
  129, 130, 131, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155, 156, 157, 
  158, and 159.

* WIND...Northeast 15 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 22 to 28 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
  Outdoor burning is discouraged.

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 warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

FLZ108-071900-
/O.NEW.KTAE.FW.W.0004.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
South Walton-
1212 AM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH WALTON
COUNTY...

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT 
this evening. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire weather zone 108.

* WIND...Northeast 15 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 24 to 28 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
  Outdoor burning is discouraged.

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 warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
523 
WWUS82 KTAE 071208
RFWTAE

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
808 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026

FLZ008>014-016-017-108-112-326-426-GAZ125-127>131-143>148-155>159-
080000-
/O.CON.KTAE.FW.W.0004.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
Central Walton-Holmes-Washington-Jackson-Inland Bay-Calhoun-
Inland Gulf-Gadsden-Leon-South Walton-Coastal Bay-
Northern Liberty-Southern Liberty-Dougherty-Worth-Turner-Tift-
Ben Hill-Irwin-Miller-Baker-Mitchell-Colquitt-Cook-Berrien-
Seminole-Decatur-Grady-Thomas-Brooks-
808 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026 /708 AM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND THE EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

* AFFECTED AREA...Florida fire weather zones 008, 014, 016, 017,
  108, 112, 326, and 426. Georgia fire weather zones 125, 127, 
  128, 129, 130, 131, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155, 156, 157,
  158, and 159. 

* WIND...Northeast 15 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 22 to 28 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is discouraged.

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 warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
400 
WWUS82 KTAE 071402
RFWTAE

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1002 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026

FLZ007-080000-
/O.EXA.KTAE.FW.W.0004.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
North Walton-
902 AM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR NORTHERN WALTON COUNTY...

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect until 7 PM CDT this evening. 

* AFFECTED AREA...Florida fire weather zone 007.

* WIND...Northeast 15 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 22 to 28 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is discouraged.

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 warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

FLZ008>014-016-017-108-112-326-426-GAZ125-127>131-143>148-155>159-
080000-
/O.CON.KTAE.FW.W.0004.260407T1500Z-260408T0000Z/
Central Walton-Holmes-Washington-Jackson-Inland Bay-Calhoun-
Inland Gulf-Gadsden-Leon-South Walton-Coastal Bay-
Northern Liberty-Southern Liberty-Dougherty-Worth-Turner-Tift-
Ben Hill-Irwin-Miller-Baker-Mitchell-Colquitt-Cook-Berrien-
Seminole-Decatur-Grady-Thomas-Brooks-
1002 AM EDT Tue Apr 7 2026 /902 AM CDT Tue Apr 7 2026/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF 
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND THE EASTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...

* AFFECTED AREA...Florida fire weather zones 008, 014, 016, 017, 
  108, 112, 326, and 426. Georgia fire weather zones 125, 127, 
  128, 129, 130, 131, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155, 156, 
  157, 158, and 159. 

* WIND...Northeast 15 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...As low as 22 to 28 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is discouraged.

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 warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Apr 6, 8:49 PM EDT, 4 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Issued at 847 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026
  • A critical combination of wind, low humidity, and dry fuels is forecast on Tuesday, mainly over part of southwest Georgia and the eastern Florida Panhandle. Any outdoor burning is highly discouraged.
  • Strong easterly winds are expected from Tuesday through Thursday, with the strongest wind most likely coming on Wednesday. On the Gulf, there is a medium chance (60 percent) of eventually needing a Gale Warning. On land, wind gusts of 35-40 mph may eventually necessitate a Wind Advisory.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 6, 8:49 PM EDT, 4 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
849 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

...New UPDATE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 847 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

- A critical combination of wind, low humidity, and dry fuels is
  forecast on Tuesday, mainly over part of southwest Georgia and
  the eastern Florida Panhandle. Any outdoor burning is highly
  discouraged.

- Strong easterly winds are expected from Tuesday through
  Thursday, with the strongest wind most likely coming on
  Wednesday. On the Gulf, there is a medium chance (60 percent)
  of eventually needing a Gale Warning. On land, wind gusts of
  35-40 mph may eventually necessitate a Wind Advisory.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 847 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

Rainfall this evening has been very light thanks to some drier air
in the low levels. Late this evening into the overnight, an area
of low pressure will begin to develop in the southeast Gulf along
the cold front, and we'll see some redevelopment of light rain
overnight, mainly in the Florida Big Bend into south Georgia.
Little impact outside of some slick roads is expected. Only made
some minor tweaks to the rain chances going into the rest of
tonight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This Evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 322 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

A cold front remains stalled to our south over Central Florida
this afternoon with a mid level shortwave currently over the
central Gulf coast. These features are helping support isentropic
lift and therefore cloud cover and rain showers across our region
today despite being in the wake of the cold front. The shortwave
will very slowly continue eastward while the front moves slowly
southward towards South Florida on Tuesday. Some additional rain
showers will be possible through Tuesday across the far
southeastern portions of the area as a result, although no
meaningful rainfall accumulation is expected. Breezy and quite dry
conditions are expected across the FL Panhandle, W Big Bend, and
into south Georgia on Tuesday afternoon as the gradient tightens
in response to the aforementioned front and strong high pressure
over the eastern CONUS. Despite recent rainfall, the combination
of drought, wind, and low relative humidity on Tuesday afternoon
will likely lead to elevated fire danger, and a Fire Weather Watch
remains in effect. Please follow instructions from local officials
and obey burn bans.

Expect highs on Tuesday in the mid to upper 70s for most of the
area with upper 60s to low 70s across the Southeast Big Bend where
more cloud cover and rain chances are expected.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday night through next Sunday)
Issued at 322 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

The gradient will continue to tighten on Wednesday as a surface
low develops along the stalled front over South Florida. This will
lead to quite windy conditions on Wednesday, with the added bonus
of the breezy easterly flow bringing moisture back into the area.
Another shortwave is forecast to approach from the west, leading
to an isolated to scattered chance for showers again on Wednesday
and Wednesday night. Again, no significant rainfall accumulation
is expected. While Wednesday is expected to be the windiest of the
week, the gradient is forecast to remain quite tight and therefore
winds quite breezy through at least Friday.

Ridging is forecast to slide over the area in time for the
weekend, wiping out any rain chances and also allowing
temperatures to climb into the unseasonably warm mid to upper 80s
once again.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 715 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours. Light rain will
continue through tonight at TLH and VLD and maybe ECP. However,
obs indicate the rain has been light enough to not restrict vsbys.
Thus, have only made mention of 6SM vsbys in the rain. DHN and ABY
will likely remain rain-free. Cigs could briefly lower as the rain
ends at TLH and VLD early Tuesday morning, so have included a
tempo for that possibility. Otherwise, low to mid level clouds
quickly scour after sunrise. Gusty NE winds are likely through the
day Tuesday with gusts around 25 kt being common.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 322 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

The week ahead will be rough on the waters. The entire work week
will feature strong to gale-force northeast and east winds. Strong
northeasterly winds are expected across the northeastern Gulf in
response to lowering pressure over South Florida today. Strong
continental high pressure will bridge south across the waters on
Tuesday and Wednesday, setting up near-gale and gale- force
easterlies. Low pressure over South Florida will finally eject
east across the Bahamas and into the Atlantic on Friday, causing
winds to back around northeasterly and gradually weaken below
Small Craft strength.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 322 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

The big story this week will be repeated days of strong northeast to
east winds from Tuesday through at least the end of the work week.
At first on Tuesday, the influx of dry air over our Georgia and
Alabama districts is likely to create a critical combination of wind
and low humidity. The strongest winds will come on Wednesday when
many districts will experience wind gusts near 40 mph, but a gradual
wind shift from northeast to east will help raise humidity above
critical thresholds. Winds will start to slowly trend downward on
Friday in time for the return of above-normal temperatures. With
such strong winds this week, widespread high dispersion values are
expected each day from Tuesday through the weekend.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 322 PM EDT Mon Apr 6 2026

No significant rainfall accumulation is expected through the next
7 days. Recent rainfall was hydrologically insignificant and
therefore not enough to improve ongoing drought conditions. See
our latest Drought Information Statement at:
weather.gov/tae/DroughtInformationStatement

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee   67  55  73  55 /  70  60  20  10
Panama City   68  56  76  57 /  70  40  10  10
Dothan        66  51  75  52 /  30  20   0   0
Albany        68  53  75  52 /  30  20   0   0
Valdosta      67  54  72  54 /  60  40  20  10
Cross City    77  54  69  57 /  50  70  50  20
Apalachicola  66  56  70  60 /  80  70  30  10

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening
     for FLZ008>014-016-017-027-112-326-426.

GA...Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening
     for GAZ125-127>131-143>148-155>161.

AL...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM EDT /4 AM CDT/ Wednesday for
     GMZ730-751-752-755-765-770-772-775.

     Gale Watch from late Tuesday night through Thursday morning for
     GMZ730-751-752-755-765-770-772-775.

&&

SHORT TERM...Merrifield
LONG TERM....Merrifield
AVIATION...Young
MARINE...Merrifield
FIRE WEATHER...Merrifield
HYDROLOGY...Merrifield

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 7, 1:02 AM EDTRip Current StatementTAEBay, Franklin, Gulf, Walton4 days
Apr 7, 1:24 AM EDTGale WarningTAE55 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Georgia, 2026Red Flag Warnings in Florida, 2026Every red flag warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.