1 week Ago By Ian Harper
The National Weather Service in Denver is issuing a heads-up to Coloradans, forecasting a mix of sunshine and potential fire hazards, as reported by the NWS's Denver office. Today's weather promises mostly sunny skies with temperatures hovering near 57 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts peaking at 17 mph. However, things take a more concerning turn tonight, with increased cloud cover and low temperatures around 33 degrees.
Winds are expected to shift and could lead to potential fire weather conditions.Over the weekend, temperatures will continue to climb, reaching a high of around 65 on Saturday and accompanied by breezy conditions throughout the area. These winds, especially at lower elevations north of Interstate 70, will bring gusts ranging from 25 to 40 mph, and for those on the plains near the northern border, there's an elevated fire danger due to the combination of strong winds and lack of snow cover, the essentials for a fire weather watch have been put in place for Saturday afternoon through evening for multiple zones, including the Denver Metro area.
As for the mountains, snow is imminent around midnight and moderate snow accumulations are on the horizon for Saturday, making travel through the mountains a challenge for most of the day. In the plains and urban corridor, locals can expect periods of elevated to locally critical fire weather from now through Monday afternoon, exacerbated by the dryness and intensified wind activity, as reported by the National Weather Service.Officials urge residents to exercise caution with outdoor activities that may produce sparks or flames, with wind conditions on Saturday expected to reach speeds of 20 to 30 mph, and gusts could approach 50 mph.
Humidity levels might drop to as low as 15 to 20 percent, making it a potentially dangerous combination for wildfire ignition and spread, according to the issued fire weather watch, conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread and outdoor burning should be avoided..
