Red Flag Warning Issued for Denver Metro and Northeast Colorado Plains Through Saturday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. The warning replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region of the Colorado Urban Corridor and Northeast Plains, including:

• Larimer, Boulder, Jefferson, and North Douglas Counties (below 6000 feet)
• Denver, Broomfield, West Adams, and West Arapahoe Counties
• Elbert, Central, and East Douglas Counties (above 6000 feet)
• Weld, Morgan, Logan, and Washington Counties
• Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties
• North and South Lincoln County

Expected Conditions

Two distinct periods of critical weather are expected:

Friday:

• Winds: West winds between 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching 25 to 40 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels will drop to between 12 and 17 percent.

Saturday:

• Winds: West winds increasing to 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching 35 to 50 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels will drop further to between 10 and 15 percent.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective during the following windows:

• Friday, March 13: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM MDT
• Saturday, March 14: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM MDT

What You Should Do

Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Residents in the affected areas are advised to:

• Avoid all outdoor burning.
• Refrain from any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
• Exercise extreme caution with machinery and cigarettes.
• Prepare for the possibility of extreme fire behavior due to the combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.