DENVER — A Red Flag Warning and High Wind Warning are in place for most of eastern Colorado through Wednesday, thanks to 70 mph winds (or higher) and high fire danger.
Strong northwest winds, low humidity and dry fuels will increase the potential for rapid fire spread on Colorado's plains and Front Range foothills overnight and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The NWS said many areas will see sustained winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.
A Red Flag Warning, out for most of eastern Colorado, continues Wednesday. The most critical conditions are expected from Weld County, southeastward into Morgan, Logan and Washington counties.
A Winter Weather Advisory was out for potions of the northern and central mountains until midnight Tuesday and a Wind Advisory was out for northwestern Colorado from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
In addition, an air quality alert was issued Tuesday for most of eastern Colorado due to blowing dust due to the strong winds.
Tuesday's strong winds prompted electric utility companies to take steps to reduce the threat of wildfires.
CORE Electric Cooperative increased the sensitivity settings of its system's monitoring and protective devices to more quickly respond to issues like trees falling into powerlines.
"Any kind of detect of a fault on our powerlines actually flips that breaker and reduces the power, eliminates the power, so we eliminate the risk of sparking, igniting a fire in those dry fuel conditions," explained Cindy Newsome, a spokesperson for CORE Electric Cooperative.
A spokesperson for Xcel Energy said the company is also able to increase sensitivity settings "in wildlife risk areas during high-wind, low humidity conditions."
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