Red Flag Warning Issued for Denver and Northeast Colorado Plains Through Tuesday Evening

Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Northeast Colorado

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for much of the I-25 corridor and northeast plains due to extreme fire weather conditions, including 65 mph wind gusts.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch as conditions have escalated to a warning level.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region of Colorado, including:

  • Urban Corridor: Denver, Boulder, and Jefferson Counties (below 6000 feet), West and East Broomfield County, North Douglas County (below 6000 feet), and West Adams and Arapahoe Counties.
  • Northeast Plains: Larimer County (below 6000 feet), Northwest, Northeast, Central, and South Weld County, Morgan County, Logan County, Sedgwick County, and Phillips County.
  • Fire Weather Zones: 238, 239, 240, 242, 243, 244, 248, 250, and 251.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to take the following precautions to prevent wildfire ignition:

  • Avoid all outdoor burning.
  • Refrain from any activity that may produce a spark, such as using outdoor machinery or tossing cigarettes.
  • Prepare for the possibility of rapid fire spread if an ignition occurs.

Expected Conditions

Extremely critical fire weather conditions are expected, characterized by:

  • Winds: West winds sustained at 30 to 40 mph with powerful gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
  • Relative Humidity: Levels dropping as low as 10 percent.
  • Impacts: The combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior and rapid spread.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

Source: NOAA Official Notice

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