At 12:53 a.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service issued an updated fire weather watch valid for Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. for Yuma and Kit Carson counties.

Winds are forecasted to be today, West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. Friday, west 15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph and relative humidity as low as 11% each day.

“West-southwest winds are forecast to increase in speed late morning and into the afternoon today. The best potential for the strongest winds currently lies across Yuma, Dundy, Hitchcock, Red Willow and Cheyenne county Kansas. There is a 20 to 30 percent chance wind gusts could exceed 60 mph across Yuma, Dundy, Cheyenne county Kansas and northern Kit Carson counties today. Winds are forecast to be a bit weaker but still gusting around 25 mph along and south of Highway 40,” according to the NWS. “Dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior. Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control.”

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