Fire Season is here for NE Florida/SE Georgia

[jdray]

34,000 acre fire burning outside of Waycross and is now entering the Okefenokee swamp.

A fire of 40 acres expanded to over 800 acres in less than an hour in Putnam county.

Winds of 15-20mph are fanning the flames.

http://weather.gfc.state.ga.us/Maps/kbdi.gif
http://flame.fl-dof.com/fire_weather/KBDI/index.html

[jdray]

Waycross Okefenokee fire is up to 45000 acres now with only 35% contained.

Winds are pushing smoke as far south as Brevard County and Sarasota.

[JonathanBelles]

It was smokey here yesturday.

[jdray]

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/tops ... ryid=80867

Fire is up to 61,000 acres burned. Officials are worried it might hop US1 and hit into prime fuel timber.

Fire has been burning 10 days, only 50% contained.

[TampaFl]

You can clearly see the 2 big fires burning in S.E. Ga showing up in this sat. loop. The smoke can be seen blowing into N.E. Fl & down the east Florida coast. After you click on the link and the page comes up, just click on "visable satellite animation" in the upper right hand corner. Very impressive. When will the rains come?


S.E. Ga Fires on Satellite


Robert

[JonathanBelles]

That the clearest satelitte I have seen in a while ie quality.

[O Town]

It was really bad here today. When we got out of church around 11:30 you couldn't see down the road, and the smell is just terrible. Reminds me of 1998, alot of mornings you would wake up to a strong smell and very hazy skies. I sure hope we don't have a repeat of 98.

http://www.wftv.com/news/13218179/detail.html

[MiamiensisWx]

Drought conditions have spread across most of the Florida peninsula and portions of southern Georgia. The event was originally confined to southern Florida but drier conditions have increased across northern and central portions of the state.

On a side note, the Lake Okeechobee water level has dropped to 9.57 feet.

http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/omd/rt_L.OKEE.html

[jdray]

http://www.wtvynews4.com/news/headlines/7248502.html

Ware County GA Fire up to 82,000 acres - 70% contained.


Yesterday we saw nothing but smoke. My car was covered in ashes. Supposed to be the same today, then the wind will shift and give us a break.....

[jdray]

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/tops ... ryid=81073

Firefighters expect fires to burn strong for at least the rest of the week......

[JonathanBelles]

Its really hazy here now.

[O Town]

Its really hazy here now.

Yeah and the sun looks like a huge orange ball, you can actually look at it. Looks wierd through all the haze, but pretty.

[JonathanBelles]

The full moon is a deep red tonight. I tried to take a picture but my picture quality is horrible.

[jdray]

nice pic of the smoke from these fires.

Ive yet to wash my car, it stays covered in ashes.....

[kevin]

Craziness. How can we find acre estimates of all the fires and monitor them?

I only hope this summer doesn't approach 1998..

[jdray]

Im trying to find a steady link for them all.

This is the best so far:
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/640/

Right now the Sweat Rd Fire is up to 89K acres or so.

Most of Florida and SE Georgia is under a Fire Weather Watch.
A spark can grow to 100 acres in a couple of hours.

We are bone dry........

[kevin]

Meteorological question, since clouds are formed by cloud condensing nuclei giving a catalyst for water vapor to coalesce into water droplet, will the smoke enhance or inhibit the chances of cloud formation? I've been told that a little can but a lot inhibits.

[kevin]

No one has the answer?

[JonathanBelles]

The NWS is expecting rain in the popcorn variety . Possibly severe ;( http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0683.html

[JonathanBelles]

Another Image of the Day: