...Critical Fire Weather South of I-70 this Afternoon... .Well above normal temperatures and dry conditions will persist south of Interstate 70, where light northerly winds will shift to the northeast and increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph late this afternoon and evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 013 Sherman, 014 Thomas, 015 Sheridan, 016 Graham, 027 Wallace, 028 Logan, 029 Gove, 041 Greeley, 042 Wichita, 253 Kit Carson and 254 Cheyenne CO. * TIMING...Until 8 PM MDT /9 PM CDT/ this evening. * WINDS...Northeast at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Unpredictable fire behavior. Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...North winds at 10 to 20 mph are expected through mid to late afternoon. Winds will shift to the northeast and increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph late this afternoon and evening.

...Critical Fire Weather South of I-70 Thursday Afternoon... .On Thursday, well above normal temperatures and dry conditions will persist south of Interstate 70, where light northeasterly winds during the late morning and early afternoon will abruptly increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph during the late afternoon. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 013 Sherman, 014 Thomas, 015 Sheridan, 016 Graham, 027 Wallace, 028 Logan, 029 Gove, 041 Greeley, 042 Wichita, 253 Kit Carson and 254 Cheyenne CO. * TIMING...From Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon. * WINDS...Northeast at 10 to 15 mph during the late morning and early afternoon, abruptly increasing to 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph during the late afternoon. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Unpredictable fire behavior. Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control.