The National Weather Service is warning people along the Front Range and on the Eastern Plains about the high risk of fires Tuesday. A red flag warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. this evening.
Many communities can expect to see sustained wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour throughout the day. Combined with dry conditions, sparks can easily start large wildfires, according to the NWS.
The most critical fire conditions are expected in the northeastern plains, including Weld, Morgan and Washington counties.
🔥NEW: All of the northeast Colorado plains have been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning for tomorrow 11 am - 9 pm. Avoid any outdoor activity that may produce a spark and start a wildifre. NO outdoor burning! #COwx pic.twitter.com/Vy0VGnK5Up
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) April 5, 2022
In higher elevations, wind gusts topped 70 miles per hour early Tuesday morning. Boulder’s NCAR Mesa lab, near where a small wildfire caused evacuations last week, clocked winds at 76 miles per hour.
By 6 a.m., crews had already responded to at least one small fire in Boulder County, which was quickly contained.
Residents should follow basic fire safety tips to avoid causing a disaster, according to the NWS:
Sign up for emergency alerts from your county.
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