Current weather – Sunlight Peak – Glenwood Springs

Current weather – Rifle Garfield County Airport

Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches

A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.

Requirements

• If burning is allowed and you have a permit from your local fire department, and an open burn/small pile/slash permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, burn barrels must be covered with weighted metal covers, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.
• Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and become a wildfire.
• Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.

National Weather Service Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warning criteria

National Weather Service definitions page

Red Flag Warning

Definition

Informs land management agencies of the imminent or actual occurrence of Red Flag conditions. A Red Flag Warning will be issued when there is high confidence that Red Flag criteria will be met within the next 24 to 48 hours, or when those criteria are already being met or exceeded. A warning may be issued for all, or portions of a fire weather zone or region. Zones impacted by the event will be listed within the Red Flag Warning product.

Criteria

A combination of weather and fuels conditions (as determined by fire management) for any 3 hours or more in a 12 hour period. These criteria for the forecast area of the Denver/Boulder NWS office are defined as the following:

1. Frequent gusts of 25 mph or greater – AND relative humidity of 15% or less

2. Dry thunderstorms (15% coverage or more, constituting an LAL 6.)

Other factors

In addition to the basic criteria above, a combination of other elements may result in Red Flag conditions:

3. Wind shifts associated with frontal passages.

4. First significant lightning event (wet or dry) after an extended hot and dry period.

5. Poor relative humidity recovery overnight (RH remains at 40% or lower.)

6. Any combination of weather and fuel moisture conditions which, in the judgment of the forecaster, would cause extensive wildfire occurrences.

Fire Weather Watch

Definition

Alerts land management agencies to the high potential for development of Red Flag criteria (see above) in the next 12-72 hours. The watch may be issued for all, or portions of a fire weather zone or region. Zones impacted by the event will be listed within the RFW.

Localized weather

Western Garfield County (DeBeque to Silt corridor) weather

Central mountain valleys Garfield County weather

National Weather Service hazards, warnings, radar and wildfires