On Friday, April 24, Denver woke to clear skies and cool air in the mid-40s, with afternoon highs headed for the low 70s. That warm, dry air will be paired with gusty southwest winds this afternoon, pushing fire danger from elevated to critical across the Front Range and nearby plains. Anyone with outdoor plans should take it seriously and prep before winds ramp up later today.
Red Flag Warning Today
A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Friday, April 24, for the Front Range foothills, the I-25 corridor and adjacent plains, with relative humidity dropping into the single digits to low teens and southwest winds gusting near 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service. That combo is tailor-made for rapid fire spread, so skip open burning and any spark-producing activities while the warning is active.
Afternoon Gusts And What To Expect
Sunny skies and a high near 73°F are on tap across the metro this afternoon, with south-southwest winds generally 6 to 14 mph and gusts up to about 23 mph. Foothills and ridge tops could see stronger gusts. A cold front slides through Friday evening, flipping winds to the northwest and dropping temperatures into the upper 30s Friday night. Saturday turns noticeably cooler with a high near 62°F and only a slight chance of afternoon showers.
Weekend Outlook
Showers and thunderstorms grow more likely Sunday, with the best shot at rain and storms Sunday afternoon into the evening. Monday remains unsettled, with lingering chances of showers and thunderstorms. For most of the Denver metro, total rainfall looks light, generally under a quarter inch, while the far northeast plains and higher passes could squeeze out a bit more.
What To Do Today
Today is a good day to batten things down. Secure patio furniture, put out open flame activities and spark-producing yardwork, and make sure tents or temporary event staging are firmly anchored. Under Red Flag conditions, even a tiny fire can get out of hand fast. If you spot smoke or an unattended fire, call 911 and alert your local fire district.
Local Context
We flagged a Fire Weather Watch for Friday in our coverage yesterday, and this is the upgrade to a Red Flag Warning that many forecasters were expecting. For background and earlier tips on Friday's fire weather watch, check out our prior coverage, per Hoodline.
