Critical fire danger is forecast for northern Colorado on Monday as abnormal heat continues across the state, but the next wave of winter’s so-far elusive snow will move into the mountains the day after, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty winds up to 35 mph and relative humidity values as low as 13% will increase fire risk throughout the day on Monday, especially near the Colorado-Wyoming border, according to a hazardous weather outlook from the weather service.
A red flag warning will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday for parts of Larimer and Weld counties, according to a weather service alert. Another red flag warning will be active Monday for southern Colorado, including Teller, Fremont, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
“Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread,” weather service meteorologists stated in the warning. “Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.”
Record and near-record temperatures are also expected across Colorado on Monday. As of Sunday evening, weather service forecasts included highs of:
- 71 degrees in Denver, just below the current Feb. 9 record of 73 degrees set in 1954. The “normal” daily temperature high for Denver on Feb. 9 is 44 degrees.
- 49 degrees in Breckenridge, nearly 10 degrees above the current record of 40 degrees set in 1908. The town’s “normal” temperature high was not available.
- 68 degrees in Castle Rock in Douglas County, one degree above the current Feb. 9 record of 67 degrees set in 1999. Castle Rock’s “normal” high on Feb. 9 is 46 degrees.
- 70 degrees in Crook on the Eastern Plains, which would tie the current record set in 2000. The “normal” temperature high in Crook on Feb. 9 is 45 degrees.
- 68 degrees in Fort Collins, five degrees below the 73-degree record set in 1954. Fort Collins’ “normal” high on Feb. 9 is 45 degrees.
- 72 degrees in Julesburg on the Eastern Plains, which would tie the record set in 1954. The “normal” temperature high in Julesburg on Feb. 9 is 42 degrees.
- 69 degrees in Lakewood, which would break the 67-degree record set in 2015. The city’s “normal” high is 44 degrees.
- 42 degrees in Winter Park, just below the current record of 44 degrees set in 1945. The town’s “normal” temperature high was not available.
Snow is expected to return to the mountains on Tuesday and continue into Saturday, according to the hazardous weather outlook. Lower elevations will also see a chance of rain and snow during that time, forecasters said in the outlook.
Snow will start as early as 11 a.m. Tuesday in the mountains, but the strongest chance for winter weather sits between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the weather service.
Rainy weather is forecast for Denver between 11 a.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Saturday, and for the Eastern Plains between 5 p.m. Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday, according to hourly forecasts from the weather service.
The weather service’s snow forecasts cover the next three days. As of Monday morning, snow is expected to fall by 5 a.m. Thursday included:
- 1/2 inch in Eldora
- 1 inch in Breckenridge and at the Keystone Ski Area Summit
- 2 inches on U.S. 6’s Loveland Pass, Colorado 125’s Willow Creek Pass near Granby, Colorado 9’s Hoosier Pass near Breckenridge, Interstate 70’s Vail Pass and U.S. 40’s Berthoud Pass near Winter Park
- 3 inches on U.S. 40’s Muddy Pass near Kremmling
- 4 inches on Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass near Fort Collins and U.S. 34’s Milner Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park
- And 11 inches on Mount Zirkel in the Park Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains
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