Red Flag Warning Issued for Washington, Lincoln, and Elbert Counties Through Monday
Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Eastern Colorado
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Eastern Colorado as low humidity and gusty winds create a high risk for rapid fire spread.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions. The alert is currently in effect for portions of the Colorado plains, with additional warnings and watches scheduled through Tuesday.
Affected Areas
The warning and subsequent watches affect the following geographic regions:
- Washington County
- North Lincoln County
- North and Northeast Elbert County (areas below 6,000 feet)
- This includes Fire Weather Zones 246 and 249.
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas should take immediate precautions to prevent wildfire ignition:
- Avoid outdoor burning: Conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread.
- Prevent sparks: Avoid any activity that may produce a spark, including the use of power tools or machinery in dry vegetation.
- Stay informed: Monitor later forecasts as extremely critical fire weather conditions are possible later in the week.
Expected Conditions
A combination of dry conditions, above-normal temperatures, and gusty winds will contribute to extreme fire behavior.
- Winds: Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected through Monday. On Tuesday, west winds are forecast to increase to 30 to 45 mph with gusts as high as 65 mph.
- Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
- Impacts: Any fires that start will likely spread rapidly and exhibit extreme behavior.
Timeline
- Current Red Flag Warning: Effective until 5:00 PM MST Sunday, February 15.
- Second Red Flag Warning: Effective from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM MST Monday, February 16.
- Fire Weather Watch: Remains in effect from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, February 17.
Source: NOAA Official Notice