Red Flag Warning

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY TODAY...POTENTIALLY CONTINUING THROUGH FRIDAY...

A warm and dry airmass will coincide with gusty west and southwest winds today. Sustained winds are expected to be 15 to 25 mph across much of the high country with gusts up to 40 mph, strongest for exposed areas and higher elevations. These conditions will drive very high fire danger across the warned area. Any new starts or established fires will likely spread rapidly under these conditions.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-70 INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS...

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 212, 214 and 216.

* TIMING...For the Red Flag Warning, from noon today to 9 PM MDT this evening. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph today and southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph on Wednesday.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent both days.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.