Posted on: August 20th, 2020

From: Webster, Kerry <kwebster@bouldercounty.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2020 8:59 AM
Subject: UPDATED: Red Flag Warning – NO OPEN BURNING

As you may have seen, the fire weather watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning. This does not change the no open burning for the whole county, but there is additional language that is useful for situational awareness. The message from the NWS is below.

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
343 AM MDT Thu Aug 20 2020

Lightning and new fire starts, along with gusty outflow winds, will be the main concerns today. An increase in mid-level moisture today will lead to an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity, only a few of which will produce wetting rains of one tenth to one quarter inch. Most areas will only see light if any rainfall. Given how dry the fuels are and receptive to burning, lightning may easily start new fires.

There will also be gusty outflow winds from the passing showers and storms. Most of these will be moving in from the west and northwest, so weather spotters will be essential today in giving a heads up to field crews. Peak gusts to 30 to 45 mph can be expected ahead of, and during any of the showers and storms today.

Moderate to good humidity recovery will finally occur tonight thanks to today’s increase in moisture and clearing skies/light winds tonight.

COZ211>213-215>218-201745-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0014.200820T1800Z-200821T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0022.200820T1800Z-200821T0300Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/ Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above
9000 Feet-Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet- Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet- Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet- West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet- South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/ Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
343 AM MDT Thu Aug 20 2020

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS…
FOOTHILLS…AND HIGH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS…

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning FOR THUNDERSTORMS, which is in effect from noon today to
9 PM MDT this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area…Fire Weather Zones 211…212…213…215…
216…217 and 218.

* Winds…Northwest 10 to 15 mph. Variable and erratic wind gusts
of 35 to 50 mph near showers and storms.

* Timing…Noon until 9 pm today.

* Impacts…Lightning and localized gusty winds from
thunderstorms may cause new fire starts and rapid spread of
fires.

* Thunderstorms…Scattered thunderstorms are expected to move
over the mountains, high parks and foothills this afternoon and
evening. A few of these storms may be dry or produce only light
rainfall.

BCSO Badge
Kerry Webster #6565
Senior Firefighter
BCSO Fire Management
kwebster@nullbouldercounty.org
Office: (303) 441-1466
Cell: (720) 415-6686

From: Webster, Kerry
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2020 22:32
To: McKinney, Seth <smckinney@bouldercounty.org>

Subject: Fire Weather Watch – NO OPEN BURNING

Good evening,
This afternoon the NWS issued a Fire Weather Watch, which includes parts of Boulder County. This will serve to extend today’s county-wide burn ban through tomorrow (8/20) at 23:59. The primary concern is strong, gusty winds associated with thunder storms. See below:

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1241 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2020

Moisture levels over northern Colorado are expected to increase today and Thursday which will cause the chance of thunderstorms over the high country to also increase. Fuel moisture levels are very low in the mountain areas due to a lack of precipitation over the past several weeks. Recent forest fire activity in Larimer and Grand Counties demonstrates how dry the forests are. As the chances of thunderstorms increases each afternoon, the chance of lightning starting additional fires will also increase. The main impact from showers today will be gusty outflow winds from 30 to 50 mph possible.

…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOONTHROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR THUNDERSTORMS FOR OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND HIGH PARKS…

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather
Watch FOR THUNDERSTORMS, which is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening.

* Affected Area…Fire Weather Zones 211…212…213…215…
216…217 and 218.

* Winds…Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Outflow winds near showers and storms could gust to 40 mph.

* Timing…Afternoon through early evening each day.

* Impacts…Lightning and localized gusty winds from thunderstorms may cause new fire starts and rapid spread of fires.

* Thunderstorms…Scattered thunderstorms are expected to move over the mountains, high parks and foothills each afternoon. They are not expected to produce much rainfall, so fuel moisture levels will remain very low. However, a few spots may see some wetting rains due to higher moisture levels, with better chances on Thursday afternoon.

Kerry Webster
BCSO
Senior Firefighter
(303) 441-1466 (office)
(720) 415-6686 (cell)