Strong winds that closed schools and prompted power shutoffs across the Front Range on Thursday will continue through the weekend, creating dangerous fire conditions.
A red flag warning is in effect Friday for the Interstate 25 corridor and northeastern plains, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service. Winds will be blowing between 25 and 40 mph, with gusts up 50 mph near the foothills and Wyoming border.
It will also be extremely dry and warm with high temperatures forecast in the 70s and 80s across the southern Front Range and Eastern Plains. Relative humidity, which measures the amount of water vapor in the air compared with the total amount of vapor that can exist in the air at its current temperature, will be as low as 13%.
When relative humidity levels decrease, fire behavior increases because fine fuels, like grass and pine needles, become drier quickly.
Lake, Chaffee and Fremont counties and the San Luis Valley could see gusts up to 35 mph and relative humidity between 8% and 15%, forecasters said.
Even stronger winds, with gusts up to 70 mph, are expected Saturday. Forecasters expect some relief Sunday as a cold front moving across the state brings lower temperatures.
As of Friday morning, more than 20,000 Xcel Energy customers were without power due to weather-related outages, according to the company’s website.Crews worked to restore power to customers impacted by weather-related outages Thursday night, but said extreme winds in Boulder, Evergreen and Fort Collins could delay their restoration efforts.
The utility company said it may shut off power again Saturday at about 2 p.m., impacting people in Boulder and Jefferson counties. Restoring outages, from the wind or a preemptive shutoff could take “several hours to several days” as crews must inspect power lines and repair any damage before they can be safely re-energized, Xcel said.
In response to the high fire risk, officials at Rocky Mountain National Park implemented a stage 2 fire ban, barring all campfires in the park. The ban is in effect indefinitely.
Semitruck roll overs, closed schools and power outages
The winds wreaked havoc across major Front Range roads Thursday, prompting officials to shut down several highways. Parts of I-25 were closed after four semitrucks were knocked over by the winds blocking the highway in Weld and Larimer counties. One driver was brought to the hospital, according to an initial report from the Colorado State Patrol. The extent of the driver’s injuries was not immediately known.Sections of Colorado 93, from south of Boulder to near the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, were also closed due to another semitruck rolling over and low visibility.
Schools in mountain communities were closed Thursday because of the high fire risk. Colorado State University officials reported downed trees and damage to buildings on its Fort Collins campus.
Students and faculty were advised to leave campus whenever possible in an alert.
“Remain indoors until you are able to leave. Use caution when traveling and be aware of debris,” the university warned.
A 2-acre grass fire sparked in Laporte, north of Fort Collins, around noon and forced mandatory evacuations, before firefighters got the flames under control and people could return home about an hour later.
Hence then, the article about dry windy conditions to create high fire danger through weekend across front range eastern plains was published today ( ) and is available on Colorado Sun ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Dry, windy conditions to create high fire danger through weekend across Front Range, Eastern Plains )
Also on site :