Fire danger is ramping up this week in Colorado as winds strengthen and humidities drop, prompting warnings across the state’s lower elevations, according to the National Weather Service.
will be in effect for the Front Range and Eastern Plains from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, . As of Wednesday evening, the included parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, Denver, El Paso, Elbert, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld counties.
Wind gusts up to 60 mph and humidity values as low as 11% are forecast across northern Colorado, according to the weather service. In southern Colorado, relative humidity may drop into the single digits.
“Extremely critical” fire weather conditions are expected Thursday and Saturday between the foothills and the Eastern Plains, . A slight lull in wind on Friday will temporarily drop fire danger down to “critical.”
🔥Critical fire weather conditions will occur this week, accelerating for the end of the week.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will see the most widespread critical conditions with strong, gusty winds – peaking Thursday and Saturday. Avoid any outdoor burning this week.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
will also be in place between 4 a.m. Thursday and noon Friday for the northernmost state and part of Colorado’s mountains, according to the weather service. The — which cover Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Larimer, Logan, Park and Weld counties, including Rocky Mountain National Park — predict wind gusts of up to 90 mph.
Winds stronger than 50 mph are considered “damaging,” according to the , which is part of the same federal agency as the weather service.
“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines,” forecasters wrote in the warning. “Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.”
