Red Flag Warning Issued for Sedgwick and Phillips Counties; Critical Fire Conditions Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions, effective immediately. A Fire Weather Watch also remains in effect for Tuesday as a prolonged period of hazardous fire weather is expected to impact the region.

Affected Areas

The warning and subsequent watch cover the following areas in Colorado:

• Sedgwick County
• Phillips County
• Fire Weather Zones 250 and 251

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should take immediate precautions to prevent wildfire ignition:

• Avoid all outdoor burning.
• Refrain from any activity that may produce a spark, such as using outdoor machinery or discarding cigarettes improperly.
• Prepare for the possibility of rapid fire spread if a fire starts.
• Listen for later forecasts and potential upgrades to the Fire Weather Watch for Tuesday.

Expected Conditions

A combination of recent dry conditions, above-normal temperatures, and gusty winds is creating a high-risk environment.

• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 10 percent.
• Today’s Winds: Southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
• Tuesday’s Winds: Significantly stronger west winds of 30 to 40 mph are forecast, with gusts potentially reaching 55 to 65 mph across the plains.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective until 5:00 PM MST this afternoon, Sunday, February 15.
• Fire Weather Watch: Effective from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening.
• Outlook: Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist through at least mid-next week.