The National Weather Service has issued a red flag (fire weather) warning for much of the Front Range and large portions of the northeastern plains, warning that mild, dry and windy conditions could allow fires to spread rapidly if one were to form, the agency said.
Forecasters called for sustained winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 40 miles per hour, with the strongest gusts expected near the Foothills and Cheyenne Ridge, according to the NWS post cited by local coverage.
The warning runs from the Interstate 25 corridor across much of the northeast plains and is in effect between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., officials said, and they urged residents to avoid actions that could create sparks, including driving on dry grass and improperly discarding cigarettes.
Conditions Driving The Risk And Outlook
CBS Colorado reported the heightened fire danger comes as a high pressure ridge over the southwest is enhancing jet stream winds at upper atmospheric levels, combining with regional drought to increase risk across the Denver metro area and parts of the Eastern Plains.
The weekly drought monitor shows continued or worsening conditions in many areas, with moderate to severe drought expanding in some southwestern mountains, and extreme to exceptional drought persisting in parts of the northern and central mountains, CBS said.
Areas in and near the northern Front Range foothills from Denver to Fort Collins and up to the Continental Divide saw severe drought expand, CBS reported, and that expanded drought adds fuel to Friday’s risk alongside unseasonably warm temperatures and single digit relative humidity values.
CBS said the red flag warning covers the entire Denver metro area up to Fort Collins and across the Eastern Plains for the same 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. window, and it noted the southern Colorado I 25 corridor is also included in the wildfire risk area.
Local forecasts cited by CBS also point to a pattern change beginning Monday that may bring multiple chances for precipitation and cooler temperatures next week, which could provide relief from the heightened fire danger.
