The Denver area and much of the state will face “critical fire weather conditions” Saturday, as dry, windy weather continues to fuel the risk of wildfires, according to the National Weather Service.
A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from noon until 8 p.m. around Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Greeley as well as all of Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick and Phillips counties.
To the south, Colorado Springs and Pueblo plus all of Bent, Crowley and Otero counties and parts of Huerfano and Las Animas will be under their own Red Flag Warning.
Residents of those areas should avoid outdoor burning and any outdoor activities that could produce sparks or open flames, the NWS warns. Relative humidity will be as low as 13%, meaning grasses and other potential fuels will be parched and easy to ignite.
Temperatures are expected to climb to 63 in Denver, with winds of 23 to 28 mph gusting up to 44 mph. Winds will continue to blow tonight, as temperatures fall to 32, before climbing back to 60 on Sunday and approaching 70 on Monday, with no rain or snow forecast.
Colorado firefighters have scrambled to extinguish multiple blazes near major cities this month, including wildfires that burned thousands of acres near Colorado Springs last week and multiple fires this week at Aurora’s Jewell Wetlands Park.