Red Flag Warning Issued for Elbert and Lincoln Counties Through Wednesday Evening
NWS Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for Elbert and Lincoln counties as strong winds and low humidity create critical fire weather conditions through Wednesday.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions. The alert was issued by NWS Denver CO and covers multiple periods of high risk for wildfire activity.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically impacts Fire Weather Zones 246 and 247, which include:
- North and Northeast Elbert County below 6000 feet
- North Lincoln County
- Southeast Elbert County below 6000 feet
- South Lincoln County
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas should avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire. Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Expected Conditions
- Winds: Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
- Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 12 percent.
- Impacts: Any fires that start will likely spread rapidly due to the high wind speeds and dry conditions.
Timeline
There are two distinct windows for this alert:
- Initial Warning: Effective until 7:00 PM MST this evening, February 17.
- Second Warning: Effective from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST on Wednesday, February 18.
Source: NOAA Official Notice