A message to all Osceola County residents: don't burn anything other than the midnight oil -- and even then, be careful.
Despite the forecast of potential rain over the weekend, Osceola County and the City of St. Cloud have re-implemented bans on all outdoor burning Friday that have in effect on and off since February.
St. Cloud announced its ban around 11 a.m. Friday, while Osceola County followed around 3:30 p.m.
The only outdoor fires allowed during the burn ban are those authorized by the Florida Forest Service, city officials said. With the burn ban in effect, campfires, fire pits, pit-style grills, trash burning, and any ground-based burning are prohibited. Fireworks are prohibited in the city except for July 4th, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
Osceola County's Keetch-Byram Drought Index reached 505 in Friday's report; 500 is generally the benchmark for calling for a burn ban. It joined neighboring Orange, Lake and Polk counties in issuing a ban.
According to the National Weather Service, much of Osceola County is under "Severe Drought" (D2) conditions, with the extreme southern part of the county in "Extreme Drought" (D3). However, the NWS is also predicting a 70% chance of thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe, late Saturday and into Sunday.
Near record highs in the low to mid 90s are expected Saturday before the rains, with west-southwest winds increasing to 15-20 mph with gusts 30- 35 mph through the day which will produce rapid spread of any new or existing fires. A Red Flag Warning may be needed for portions of the area Saturday, the NWS noted in its five-day forecast.
