High fire danger: Red flag warning for eastern Colorado Monday
The National Weather Service offices in Pueblo and Boulder have issue red flag warnings for high fire danger across much of eastern Colorado for Monday.
Strong winds are expected, with gusts to 50 miles per hour possible for most of the warned area, and up to 70 mph in Teller and El Paso counties. The warnings come into effect as early as 7:00 a.m. Monday in the southeast, continuing as late as 6:00 p.m.
Relative humidity is predicted to be in the mid-teens in most areas. Wind gusts begin to ramp up after midnight Monday morning, quickly reaching 30-50 mph. Wind will steadily decrease during the afternoon into the evening as the system exits the region.
Red flag warning for high fire danger in southeast Colorado December 30, 2024
The southeast can look for above-normal temperatures in the 50s, and approaching 60 in the far southeast, while temperatures in the 40s are expected further north.
Monday marks the third anniversary of the deadly Marshall Fire in Boulder County, which burned over 1,000 structures – most of them homes. Conditions Monday appear to be reminiscent of conditions three years ago.
In southeast Colorado, red flag warnings cover all or most of Baca, Las Animas, Huerfano, Pueblo, El Paso, Teller, Otero, Crowley, Bent, Prowers, Kiowa, and Lincoln counties. For the northeast, Elbert, Douglas, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Denver, Adams, Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties are partially or wholly covered by warnings.
Red flag warning for high fire danger in northeast Colorado December 30, 2024
Conditions favor the rapid spread of any fires which do ignite. The NWS discourages any outdoor burning or other activities which could spark a fire.
Northeast New Mexico is also under a red flag warning, while fire weather watches extend across much of western Texas, the Oklahoma panhandle, southeast New Mexico, and southwest Kansas. Those area may see the watch convert to a red flag warning.
For the remainder of northeast Colorado, a high wind watch is in effect from early Monday morning into the afternoon. Wind gusts as high as 75 mph are expected for some areas. Counties under the watch include Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Yuma, Washington, Morgan, eastern Weld, Logan, Sedgwick, and Phillips.
Wind are likely to produce blowing dust which would reduce visibility to less than one-quarter miles in some areas. Travel will be difficult and potentially hazardous, especially for high-profile vehicles.
The high wind watch extends into western Kansas as well as parts of southwest Nebraska and southeast Wyoming.
