Warm Weather Fuels Fire Danger

By 7News Weather Producer Steve Hamilton

Denver, CO -- Above-average temperatures and strong winds are forecast across Colorado Saturday, increasing the danger of wildfires across the state.

A ridge of high pressure will bring mostly sunny skies, but strong southerly winds will dry out the lower levels of the atmosphere Saturday afternoon. Winds could gust up to 25 mph around the Denver area, and up to 40 mph across the plains, especially in the south.

When warm temperatures combine with low relative humidity readings and strong winds, that spells high fire danger. A Red Flag warning is in effect for most of the counties in southern Colorado through 9:00 p.m. Saturday night. A Red Flag warning means fire danger is high, and any fires that start could quickly spread due to dry conditions and high winds.

Saturday's warm and dry weather is due to a large high pressure system, situated over southern Colorado. High pressure systems generally bring fair weather.

However, a cold front approaching from the northwest will interact with the high pressure ridge, causing winds to increase from the south-southwest around the back side of the high.

Warm and dry air will be pulled across our area, with relative humidity values around 15%. Relative humidity is an indicator of how close the air is to saturation at the current temperature. When relative humidity readings drop into the teens and winds are above 25 mph, the National Weather Service usually issues a Red Flag warning.

Outdoor burning should be avoided.

Two firefighters were killed in a wildfire near Ordway, Colorado this week, and an air tanker pilot was also killed when his plane crashed.

Temperatures are expected to cool a bit on Sunday, reducing the wildfire danger somewhat.

A cold front will move through northeast Colorado on Monday, bringing some moisture and cooler weather.

The rest of the week will be seasonal, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s at lower elevations, and mostly 40s and 50s in the high country.

While the mountains have received abundant snow this past winter, the lower elevations have remained drier than average. March 2008 was the third-driest on record, according to the National Weather Service.