Dry conditions prompt Fire Weather Watch for the Colorado Front Range

The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for the Colorado Front Range for Sunday due to unseasonably warm weather and dry conditions.  The bulletin warns of "critical fire weather conditions" for the area including Denver.

Temperatures Saturday and Sunday are expected to be more than 10 degrees above normal in the Denver metro area.  With the humidity being very low and gusty winds expected Sunday afternoon, conditions are ripe for fires.

The watch goes into effect at noon on Sunday and runs through 9:00pm Sunday night with the entire Front Range including the foothills from Castle Rock to the Wyoming border falling under the watch area.  The Western Slope from the Continental Divide west to the Utah border is under a Fire Weather Watch as well for the same period. 

Colorado has managed to make it through the summer relatively unscathed from wildfires.  However with the dry conditions and many people spending time outdoors on the holiday weekend, the danger of a fire is very real. 

Related:

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For more information:

• Current Red Flag / Fire Weather watches / warnings for the Denver area
• InciWeb – Incident Information
• National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)