Gerry LaCavera (LAH-cuh-VAIR-uh) with the Florida Division of Forestry says dry weather and brisk winds are a dangerous combination.

byte: :40 the high winds that we have can make fires more intense and also spread more quickly. One of our worst nightmares is to arrive on a scene and have the winds pick up or even have them gusty. that’s one factor we really don’t want to see when we get out there.

LaCavera says Southwest Florida is extremely dry right now and become even more so as the dry season continues. Rainfall is generally sparse during March, April and May. The summer weather pattern of afternoon showers and thunderstorms begins in June.