Posted on: December 29th, 2024

NWS has issued a Red Flag Warning for Boulder County from 0700-1700 Monday 12/29. There will be NO OPEN BURNING from 0001-2359 tomorrow.  the open burn portal will be shut down for that duration as well.

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 5 PM MST MONDAY FOR THE

SOUTHERN FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS…I-25 URBAN CORRIDOR…AND

ADJACENT PLAINS…FIRE WEATHER ZONES 216…238 THROUGH

241…243…AND 245 THROUGH 247…

 

…HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY

AFTERNOON FOR THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILL AND ALL OF THE NORTHEAST

PLAINS…

 

.DISCUSSION…Today and tonight…Snow will decrease by midday in

the mountains by midday with dry conditions over the plains.  Winds

will remain gusty over the higher terrain.  Temperatures will remain

above normal across the plains.

 

For tonight, snow will increase in the mountains by late evening.

Winds will remain gusty over the higher terrain.  

 

LONG TERM DISCUSSION…Monday through Thursday…Critical fire

weather conditions will develop Monday due to very strong, gusty

winds and dry fuels. Humidity levels will stay above traditional

critical thresholds at 15%, but the magnitude of winds (gusts

45-60+ mph likely across all of the foothills and plains, locally

gusts to ~75 mph near the foothills) and recent dryness/lack of

snow cover means very high or even extreme grassland fire danger.

We have upgraded the Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning, and

expanded it slightly to include central and southern Weld County.

Latest models have trended drier, so despite colder temperatures

Monday humidities may drop to minimums near 20% along the I-25

Corridor, with 25-30% in the rest of the Red Flag Warning areas

(e.g. southern Front Range Foothills, adjacent plains toward Weld

and rural Adams, Arapahoe, and Lincoln Counties). We’re still not

out of the woods for fire danger elsewhere, but at least

humidities will be a little higher farther east and a late day

moisture surge should help alleviate the worst of the fire weather

conditions over the northeast plains. Still something to monitor

closely given the expected magnitude of winds.

 

Tuesday through Thursday will feature lighter winds. Below normal

temperatures can be expected Tuesday and Wednesday, with a slow

warmup starting Thursday. Smoke dispersal will be good in/near the

mountains and foothills Tuesday and Thursday, with a slight dip in

between on Wednesday.

Let me know if you have any concerns or questions. 

Kyle Holsinger

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Forwarded by Rich Caudill, GHFPD Chief