High fire danger continues across portions of southern Colorado – and one northeast county – Wednesday.

Red flag warnings will be in effect from 11:00 a.m. to as late as 8:00 p.m. due to humidity dropping as low as five percent and west winds gusting to 40 miles per hour. Combined with drought conditions across the state, fires that start could spread rapidly, potentially leading to evacuations.

Impacted counties include Yuma in the northeast, along with all of Baca, Las Animas, Costilla, Huerfano, Alamosa, Custer and Fremont, along with portions of Conejos, Rio Grande, Saguache, and Park counties.

The warning extends into much of western Kansas, northwest New Mexico, northern Texas, and the Oklahoma panhandle.

Outdoor burning and other activities that could start a fire are discouraged.

Learn more about preparing for fire evacuations.