Red Flag Warning Issued for Parts of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Goodland, Kansas, has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are occurring or will occur shortly. This warning replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch for Sunday.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Fire Weather Zones across three states:

• Colorado: Yuma and Kit Carson counties.
• Kansas: Cheyenne county.
• Nebraska: Dundy, Hitchcock, and Red Willow counties.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should exercise extreme caution to prevent wildfire starts:

• Comply with all local burn bans and outdoor burning regulations.
• Avoid driving or parking vehicles on dry grass or brush.
• Maintain vehicle brakes and tires, and ensure tow chains are secured to avoid creating sparks on the roadway.
• Never toss lit cigarettes onto the ground.
• Prepare for unpredictable fire behavior; any fires that develop may spread rapidly and grow out of control.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to create significant fire hazards over the coming days:

• Sunday Conditions: Southwesterly winds of 15 to 30 mph are forecast. Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 15 percent.
• Tuesday Conditions: A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Tuesday, where southwest winds of 35 to 45 mph and gusts up to 65 mph are possible. Relative humidity may drop further to 12 percent, potentially leading to explosive fire growth.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: In effect Sunday, February 15, from 11:00 AM MST (Noon CST) until 5:00 PM MST (6:00 PM CST).
• Fire Weather Watch: In effect from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening.