Red Flag Warning Issued for Yuma and Kit Carson Counties Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Goodland, KS, has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. The alert is triggered by a combination of strong winds and very low relative humidity, which can lead to unpredictable and dangerous fire behavior.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the following regions in Colorado:

• Yuma (Fire Weather Zone 252)
• Kit Carson County (Fire Weather Zone 253)

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors in the affected areas are urged to take the following precautions:

• Comply with all local burn bans and fire regulations.
• Avoid driving vehicles on dry grass or brush.
• Maintain vehicle brakes and tires; ensure tow chains are secured to prevent dragging and sparking.
• Never toss lit cigarettes onto the ground.
• Be aware that any fires that develop may grow rapidly and spread out of control.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate over a two-day period:

• Winds: Southwesterly winds of 10 to 20 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph each day.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 11 percent on Friday and as low as 9 percent on Saturday.
• Temperature: Temperatures are expected to rise into the 70s on Friday, with even warmer conditions anticipated for Saturday.
• Note: Increased cloud cover on Saturday could potentially impact wind magnitudes; however, without cloud cover, winds may be stronger than currently forecast.

Timeline

Two distinct warning periods have been established:

• Friday, March 13: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT
• Saturday, March 14: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT