Red Flag Warnings issued across U.S. West as fire risk rises
National Weather Service offices in Reno, Denver, Sacramento, Albuquerque and Boise issued Red Flag Warnings Friday into Saturday as hot, dry and windy conditions spread across the U.S. West. Warnings cover fire weather zones across Colorado (including Fire Weather Zones 211, 218), central Nevada, much of Oregon, Washington's Okanogan and Kittitas valleys, Utah's west desert, parts of New Mexico and pockets of Alaska, generally from late morning into the evening on June 19 and June 20. Forecasts call for west winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, very low relative humidity and scattered dry lightning that could ignite new fires. Local officials have imposed burn bans and watering restrictions in drought-stricken areas, and the warnings raise the risk of rapid fire growth that could threaten homes, farms and power infrastructure.
