Will Everglades wildfire send smoke our way into the weekend? What forecast says
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Everglades blaze rages over 45,000 acres, becoming 2025’s largest wildfire in Florida
On Aug. 20, two Broward County grass fires out in the Florida Everglades combined, continuing to grow into an over 42,000 acre blaze. The Florida Forest Service has battled the separate fires since they first began, on Aug. 18, and their combined eventual growth.
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As the largest fire in Florida this year continues to burn in the Everglades, people in South Florida — particularly in Broward County — can expect smoky, hazy skies through the weekend.
The wildfire, dubbed the Mile Marker 39 Fire, has grown to at least 45,000 acres since it began Monday evening. As of Friday afternoon, firefighters had contained about 30%.
Crews on the ground are facing challenges due to the Everglades ecosystem. The wetlands make it difficult for firefighters to access certain areas, hindering suppression efforts. To reach the fire, teams have been using airboats and focusing on accessible zones, according to Florida Forest Service spokesperson Michelle Danielson.
Danielson noted that Everglades wildfires often go unnoticed by the public, and it’s unusual for wind patterns to push smoke into metro areas. But a persistent west-to-southwesterly wind is doing just that, said Chuck Caracozza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.
“What that’ll do each day is it’ll help blow the smoke, unfortunately, back into the metro areas, particularly of northern Broward County and south Palm Beach County,” Caracozza said.
He added that wind patterns are not expected to shift until the middle of next week.
What about air quality?
North Broward had the worst air quality in South Florida as of Friday morning, according to AirNow, which releases air-quality data and is part of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Areas near Coconut Creek and Lighthouse Point are experiencing “moderate” air quality. AirNow advises that people who are “unusually sensitive” should “consider making outdoor activities light and short. Go inside to cleaner air if you have symptoms.”
Most of Broward County, however, remains under a “good” air-quality index.
For timely updates, check the AirNow website.
What else does the weekend forecast say?
The same wind pattern increasing smoke concerns will also boost the chances of showers and thunderstorms, typical for this time of year, Caracozza explained.
“We’ll see those hit or miss afternoon showers and thunderstorms, both on Saturday and Sunday afternoon,” he said.
What will come along with the smoke and rain? Heat.
The heat index — the mix of air temperatures and humidity — is expected to climb into the triple digits.
“Range from 100 to 105 pretty much each day,” Caracozza said. “So if you have any outdoor activities planned, make sure you drink a lot of water.”
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM.
