On Wednesday at 7:59 p.m. an updated fire weather watch was issued by the National Weather Service valid for Friday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. for Upper Arkansas River Valley including Lake County and Chaffee County.

Winds are expected to be west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and relative humidity as low as 8%.

“Elevated fire danger is expected. Fires will catch and spread rapidly and erratically,” states the NWS.

According to the NWS, a fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible. Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.

Source: The National Weather Service