Red Flag Warning Issued for Washington and Lincoln Counties as Critical Fire Conditions Persist
Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Eastern Colorado
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of eastern Colorado through Monday due to dangerously low humidity and gusty winds.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. The alert is currently in effect and includes a secondary warning window for Monday, followed by a Fire Weather Watch for Tuesday. This alert is issued when a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures are present to contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Affected Areas
The warning impacts the following regions in Colorado:
- Washington County
- North Lincoln County
- North and Northeast Elbert County (Areas below 6000 feet)
- This includes Fire Weather Zones 246 and 249.
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas are urged to take the following precautions:
- Avoid all outdoor burning.
- Refrain from any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
- Monitor local forecasts for updates, as conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread.
Expected Conditions
- Winds: Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts reaching up to 35 mph are expected through Monday. On Tuesday, winds are forecast to shift to the west at 30 to 45 mph, with potential gusts as high as 65 mph.
- Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
- Temperature: Above-normal temperatures combined with recent dry conditions are contributing to the hazard.
Timeline
- Sunday, Feb. 15: Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 5:00 PM MST.
- Monday, Feb. 16: A second Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM MST.
- Tuesday, Feb. 17: A Fire Weather Watch is in effect from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, with extremely critical conditions possible.
Source: NOAA Official Notice