(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — Weather is known to be a big factor in fire danger and the spread and growth of the fire itself. Weather conditions that are favorable for a fire to spark and spread were in place on Sunday, Feb. 25, during the start of the West Monument Creek Fire.
Here are some of the weather factors that are monitored that contribute to wildfire danger.
First, we are typically concerned with low relative humidity and drought because, during drought and dry conditions, fuels for wildfires like grasses, trees, and other plants can dry out and become more flammable. Drought can also increase the probability of ignition and the rate at which fire spreads.
As for winds, they are a concern because they aid in combustion and increase oxygen supply. Winds also aid in fire spread by carrying heat and burning embers to new fuels, and by bending the flames closer to the unburned fuels ahead of the fire. The direction of the fire spread is also determined mostly by wind direction.
Finally, atmospheric stability can also affect fire behavior. In unstable conditions, winds tend to be turbulent and gusty. These kinds of conditions can cause the fire to behave erratically.
On Sunday, when the West Monument Creek Fire on the Air Force Academy started, some of these ingredients were already in place in our area. We had low relative humidity, gusts up to 40 mph at times and the National Weather Service had issued a Red Flag Warning for Fire Danger for that time period.
Chief Meteorologist Matt Meister walks you through the conditions on Sunday and how we could still see some of those conditions through Monday, Feb. 26.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, our typical wildfire season in Southern Colorado is May through September. However, according to our records since the 1970s our area has become warmer and drier.
Data from Climate Central shows, that for our area, which is defined by the Arkansas River Drainage, our fire season has been extended to 45 additional days. So, the fact we are seeing wildfires in late February, or could see it past September now, is not out of the realm of possibility.
Stay tuned to FOX21 News and the FOX21 Storm Team for all the information on current wildfires.
