Red Flag Warning Issued for Palmer Divide and Lincoln County Through Thursday Night

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. The alert was issued by NWS Denver CO and is classified under the VTEC code /O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0019.260312T1700Z-260313T0300Z/.

Affected Areas

The warning affects the following geographic regions in Colorado:

• Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet
• North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County
• Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County

This includes Fire Weather Zones 241, 246, and 247, specifically covering the Palmer Divide and Lincoln County.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior and rapid fire spread.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: West winds ranging from 10 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
• Impacts: Weather conditions will be favorable for the rapid spread of fires.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 11:00 AM MDT on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The warning is currently scheduled to remain in effect until 9:00 PM MDT on Thursday, March 12, 2026.