Forecasters have issued rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warnings for parts of Colorado and Wyoming, where extreme wind gusts up to 100 mph and dry conditions pose a severe wildfire threat. This unprecedented alert underscores the immediate danger to life and property in the region.
The National Weather Service offices in Boulder, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, declared the first-ever PDS red flag warning for Colorado, effective until Friday night. Similar alerts cover Wyoming’s Laramie County, emphasizing the risk of rapid wildfire spread due to a potent combination of very strong winds, extremely dry air, and near-record warmth. Residents are urged to assemble emergency supply kits and familiarize themselves with evacuation routes, as timely evacuation may not be possible if a fire approaches.
Wind conditions are exceptionally severe, with sustained speeds of 45 to 55 mph and gusts ranging from 80 to 100 mph, peaking at 113 mph in Boulder. Humidity levels have dropped as low as 8% in some areas, creating an environment where any ignition could lead to uncontrollable fires. The dry downsloping effect from the Rockies is driving these conditions, with record high temperatures exacerbating the fire risk across the Front Range.
In response, Xcel Energy implemented public safety power shutoffs affecting over 80,000 customers in Colorado to prevent wind-damaged power lines from sparking new fires. This precaution follows earlier outages from another windstorm earlier in the week. More than 100,000 outages were reported by late Friday evening, primarily in higher elevations west of Denver, highlighting the widespread impact of the wind event.
The region has a history of devastating wildfires, such as the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, which burned nearly 1,000 structures and claimed two lives. Current drought conditions and a lack of recent precipitation have left fuels exceptionally dry, increasing the likelihood of fire ignition and rapid spread. The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the fire weather forecast to Level 3 “extremely critical,” the most severe level, affecting over 600,000 people including those in Fort Collins, Boulder, and Cheyenne.
Several small fires have already been reported, with at least one extinguished near Fort Collins on Thursday. Authorities, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, have advised residents to stay home and avoid travel due to dangerous wind conditions. Emergency services are on high alert, monitoring for any new fire starts and preparing for potential evacuations.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve overnight as humidity increases and winds decrease, but the immediate hours remain critical. The event underscores the increasing severity of fire weather in the Western United States, linked to broader climate patterns. Communities must remain vigilant and prepared for such extreme scenarios, with ongoing efforts to enhance fire prevention and public safety measures.
Looking ahead, forecasters will continue to monitor the situation closely, with updates provided as conditions evolve. The issuance of a PDS red flag warning serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by regions prone to wildfires, emphasizing the need for proactive planning and community resilience in the face of natural disasters.
