Fire weather watch issued for 37 Colorado counties Sunday and Monday

Chris Sorensen

The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch across eastern and central Colorado counties for Sunday and Monday afternoon as the potential increases for fires to start and grow rapidly.

A fire weather watch is issued when critical fire conditions are expected. South winds are predicted in the 20-30 mile per hour range - with gusts between 45-60 mph possible - as a surface low moves northeast across Colorado into Wyoming starting Saturday night.

Relative humidity is expected to fall as low as 14 percent Sunday and drop further to 12 percent Monday. High temperatures across the eastern plains are predicted to be in the upper 80s to low 90s. Mountain areas can look for highs in the 70s.

While the southeast portion of Colorado can look for continued warm and dry conditions Monday, the northeast is expected to see cooler temperatures and moist air.

Colorado counties covered by the watch include all or portions of