Red Flag Warning Issued for Palmer Divide and Eastern Plains Through Tuesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. The warning covers two distinct periods: effective immediately through Monday evening, and a second window effective Tuesday.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the Palmer Divide and the Eastern Plains south of I-76, specifically including:

• Douglas County: Central and East Douglas Counties above 6000 feet.
• Elbert County: North, Northeast, and Southeast Elbert County, including areas both above and below 6000 feet.
• Lincoln County: North and South Lincoln County.
• Adams and Arapahoe Counties: Central and East portions.
• Washington County.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected zones are urged to take the following precautions:

• Avoid outdoor burning: Do not start any fires or use equipment that may produce sparks.
• Exercise caution: Any activity that could spark a wildfire should be avoided, as conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread.
• Prepare: A Red Flag Warning means extreme fire behavior is possible due to the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.

Expected Conditions

Extremely critical fire weather conditions remain possible through Tuesday. The following conditions are forecast:

• Winds (Monday): South winds between 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
• Winds (Tuesday): West winds increasing to 30 to 40 mph, with dangerous gusts up to 60 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 10 percent.
• Impacts: These conditions will facilitate the rapid spread of any fires that ignite.

Timeline

• Monday Alert: In effect until 6:00 PM MST this evening, February 16.
• Tuesday Alert: In effect from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST Tuesday, February 17.