Red Flag Warning Issued for Eastern Colorado Plains; Extreme Fire Weather Possible Tuesday
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Washington and Lincoln counties as critical fire weather conditions develop across the eastern Colorado Plains.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Red Flag Warning
- Affected area
- Eastern Colorado Plains
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Denver CO
Fire-weather notices describe conditions that can support rapid fire spread; they do not report that a fire is present. Check local emergency sources for any active incident.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Eastern Colorado Plains.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert is in effect for Sunday, February 15. Additionally, Fire Weather Watches remain in effect for Monday and Tuesday as a prolonged period of critical fire weather conditions is expected to impact the region.
Affected Areas
The warning and subsequent watches affect the following geographic areas in Colorado:
- Washington County
- North Lincoln County
- North and Northeast Elbert County (Below 6000 Feet)
- Fire Weather Zones 246 and 249
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid all outdoor burning. Any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire should be avoided, as conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Residents should continue to listen for later forecasts regarding the Fire Weather Watches currently in place for early next week.
Expected Conditions
Weather conditions are characterized by recent dry spells and above-normal temperatures. Specific hazards include:
- Winds: Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are expected Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, winds are forecast to increase significantly to 30 to 45 mph with gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
- Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
- Fire Behavior: The combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures may contribute to extreme fire behavior and rapid spread.
Timeline
- Red Flag Warning: Effective Sunday, February 15, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM MST.
- First Fire Weather Watch: Effective Monday morning through Monday afternoon.
- Second Fire Weather Watch: Effective Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, when extreme fire weather conditions are most likely.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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