Goodland, Kansas – Southwest wind gusts up to 45 mph could push any spark into a fast-moving prairie fire by late morning along the Colorado-Kansas border.
According to the National Weather Service in Goodland, a Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. MST to 5 p.m. MST Wednesday for Cheyenne and Kit Carson counties in Colorado and Wallace, Logan, Greeley and Wichita counties in Kansas. In Gove County, the warning runs from noon to 6 p.m. CST. Southwest winds will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, while relative humidity drops as low as 13 percent. Gove County can expect gusts near 30 mph with similar humidity levels.
The strongest winds are expected in Cheyenne County, Colorado, and Greeley County, Kansas. Open rangeland along U.S. 385, Interstate 70 and Highway 27 faces the highest risk for rapid fire growth and shifting flame fronts.
Officials urge residents to follow burn bans, avoid driving on dry grass and secure tow chains to prevent sparks. Even a small ignition source could lead to unpredictable fire behavior under these conditions.
Winds will shift to the northwest early Thursday morning as a cold front moves through, bringing another period of strong winds. Additional warnings could be issued if critical conditions redevelop.
