Strong, gusty winds, near-record temperatures and low humidity across Colorado on Monday will create “critical fire weather conditions,” according to the National Weather Service.
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, most of Colorado east of the foothills will be under a Red Flag Warning for the increased risk of fire danger, NWS forecasters said.
Colorado’s Front Range and Eastern Plains will see relative humidities as low as 8% and wind gusts up to 50 mph, forecasters said.
Strong, downsloping winds may also bring 65 mph wind gusts into Colorado’s lower foothills, according to a Hazardous Weather Outlook.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 75 degrees in Denver on Monday, one degree short of the city’s March 17 record of 76 degrees — set in 2012 — and nearly 20 degrees above normal March temperatures, according to NWS records.
Cities and towns on the Eastern Plains will also see above-normal and near-record temperatures Monday, forecasters said.
A temperature high of 74 degrees is forecast for Akron, which set a March 17 record high of 78 degrees in 2012. Temperatures are also forecast to peak around 78 degrees near the Colorado-Nebraska border in Sedgwick, which recorded a record high of 83 degrees in 2015.
Temperatures will drop Tuesday as a new storm system moves into Colorado, according to the Hazardous Weather Outlook.
Snow is forecast to start in Colorado’s mountains Tuesday morning before moving into lower elevations, including Denver and the Eastern Plains, Tuesday evening, forecasters said in the outlook.
Strong winds up to 55 mph will continue Tuesday, creating white-out conditions on mountain passes, the foothills near Denver and in areas south and southeast of Denver, forecasters said. Heavy snow is not expected on the plains, but a combination of light snow and blowing snow is likely Tuesday evening.
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