By Claire Cleveland / NewsBreak
(Denver, Colo.) Gusty winds, dry vegetation and low humidity span Denver, Boulder and most of Southern Colorado. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning until 7 p.m. Monday for the areas and warned of fire danger.
In Colorado, a red flag warning is issued under certain conditions, including:
- Frequent gusts of 25 mph or greater and relative humidity of 15% or less
- Dry thunderstorms
- Wind shifts associated with frontal passages
- First significant lightning event (wet or dry) after an extended hot and dry period
- Any combination of weather and fuel moisture conditions which, in the judgment of the forecaster, would cause extensive wildfire occurrences
Strong winds and warm weather are expected to last throughout the week in metro Denver. Tuesday’s expected high is 79 degrees with 5-10 mph winds, triggering a fire weather watch from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday could see a high of 89 degrees, followed by a cooler 77 on Thursday and Friday.
Monitoring wind conditions and fire has always been a concern, but it took on new significance after late December’s Marshal Fire. Around the new year, high wind gusts along the Front Range took a grass fire in Boulder to epic proportions. The Marshall Fire spread quickly and became the most destructive fire in Colorado history.
The West Metro Fire Rescue, which is headquartered in Lakewood, warned of extreme fire danger Monday with the warm and dry conditions.
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