Weather Alert in Colorado
Red Flag Warning issued March 20 at 12:46PM MDT until March 21 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Denver CO
AREAS AFFECTED: Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County; Northeast Weld County
DESCRIPTION: ...WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS PEAKING SATURDAY... All-time record March heat, exceptionally low humidity, and periods of breezy winds will continue to drive critical fire weather conditions through Saturday. Today, the highest fire danger will be localized to the Cheyenne Ridge and vicinity where winds will be strongest. Breezy winds will become expansive on Saturday coinciding with highly anomalous heat and single-digit humidity, extending into the foothills and high mountain valleys. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 2 PM to 10 PM MDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238 and 242. * TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 7 PM MDT this evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 2 PM to 10 PM MDT Saturday. * WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
INSTRUCTION: A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Want more detail? Get the Complete 7 Day and Night Detailed Forecast!
Current U.S. National Radar--Current
The Current National Weather Radar is shown below with a UTC Time (subtract 5 hours from UTC to get Eastern Time).
National Weather Forecast--Current
The Current National Weather Forecast and National Weather Map are shown below.
National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow
Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.
North America Water Vapor (Moisture)
This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.
Weather Topic: What is Sleet?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet
Next Topic: Snow
Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary
components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones,
and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and
therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.
The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be
wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer
layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air
it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water
droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is
freezing rain.
Next Topic: Snow
Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds
Next Topic: Stratus Clouds
Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their
fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.
A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure
the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally
an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a
stratocumulus cloud.
It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do
it is usually a light rain or snow.
Next Topic: Stratus Clouds
Current conditions powered by WeatherAPI.com