For eight of the past 11 days, high fire danger has plagued eastern Colorado. Friday, six other states are facing similar risks.

A red flag warning issued by the National Weather service came into effect at noon, and is expected to continue through 8:00 p.m. Afternoon winds may gust as high as 40 miles per hour, while relative humidity falls to the low teens. High temperatures in the upper 60s are expected.

Counties in the warning included Yuma, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers, Baca, Bent, and Otero. Most of Las Animas County, and a segment of eastern Huerfano are also under the warning.

In additional to eastern Colorado, portions of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa also have red flag warnings Friday.

A large portion of southeast Colorado remains under severe, extreme, and exceptional drought conditions. Moderate drought is impacting the remainder of the area. The worst conditions stretch across southern Baca County, where exceptional drought has had a toe-hold for months, and has recently been expanding. A pocket of severe drought centered on Pueblo County expanded into El Paso, Lincoln, Kiowa and Elbert counties, while increasing in Crowley County.

High temperatures are expected to continue in the 70s through the weekend, and increase to the 80s by midweek.

A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Watch for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.