...PROLONGED CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THEHIGH COUNTRY TODAY AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY...POTENTIALLY CONTINUING THROUGH FRIDAY...

A WARM AND DRY AIRMASS WILL COINCIDE WITH GUSTY WEST AND SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY AND TUESDAY, AND COULD POTENTIALLY CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. SUSTAINED WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 15 TO 30 MPH ACROSS MUCH OF THE HIGH COUNTRY THIS AFTERNOON, WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH, STRONGEST FOR EXPOSED AREAS AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THESE CONDITIONS WILL DRIVE VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. ANY NEW STARTS OR ESTABLISHED FIRES WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DENVER HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA...FIRE WEATHER ZONES 241, 246 AND 247.

* TIMING...UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...BETWEEN 5 AND 11 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.