A wildfire that ignited in northeastern Colorado earlier this week has spread to 40,000 acres, with a few other fires igniting elsewhere across the state as extreme winds heighten the risk of rapid fire spread.
An extreme wildfire threat is currently being felt across much of the state, with some wind gusts exceeding 100 mph. To make matters worse, relative humidity has plummeted to the single digits in some cases, creating a dry environment ideal for rapid fire spread. Although extremely strong wind gusts are not uncommon in Colorado in December, National Weather Service (NWS) warning coordination meteorologist Greg Heavener told Newsweek that snow typically blankets the dry grasses and finer fuels that feed a wildfire at this point in the year. However, Boulder has been unusually dry. A single snowfall event has occurred in the region, and the snow has long since melted.
NWS Boulder has issued red flag warnings alerting people to fire risk, and the office even issued a first-of-its-kind Particularly Dangerous Situation to highlight the wildfire threat. Although no fires have been reported in Boulder as of late Friday morning, one fire ignited in Yuma County earlier in the week. By Thursday morning, the flames had spread to 40,000 acres.
“Here is a look from on the ground in northeastern Yuma County, where a wildfire has now burned an estimated 40,000 acres,” KOAA News 5 posted on X on Thursday morning.
Newsweek reached out to the Yuma County Office of Emergency Management by phone for comment.
“NEW: Nine fires are burning across rural Yuma County, Colorado,” 9 News journalist Kyle Clark posted on X. “Winds to 50-60mph. Farmers being asked to bring tractors and disks to cut fire lines. No formal evacuations. Appears very fluid. Emergency managers telling people to evacuate for nearest town if fire approaches.”
Live Tracker Maps Reveal Strong Winds, Widespread Drought
Live tracker maps from windy.com reveal the extreme wildfire risk across the state of Colorado, with peak wind gusts being felt in central and northern Colorado.
The region has experienced a drier start to winter than is typical, with Heavener saying that Boulder has only seen one snowfall event so far this season, in which the snow has already melted. Denver saw one of its latest first snows ever, and ski resorts across the state are facing a snow drought.
Usually at this point in the year, snow covers the dry fuels that wildfires feed on, but currently, that isn’t the case.
Parts of Colorado also face a high risk of fire spread, according to windy.com, as well as pockets of intense drought.
The worst threat will persist through Friday during the mid-afternoon hours, Heavener said. Red flag warnings will remain in place until midnight. High wind warnings are also in effect. People in the impacted areas are urged to monitor local weather reports and be prepared to act swiftly should a fire break out nearby.
