More than 15 million under fire weather alerts in central U.S., as warmth, strong winds fuel "extreme" wildfire risks
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Over 15 million people across the central United States are under fire weather alerts through Friday due to a combination of heat, dry air, and strong winds increasing wildfire risks.
- Approximately 3.8 million people face "critical fire weather" conditions on Thursday in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, according to the National Weather Service.
- Red flag warnings and fire weather watches are in effect, indicating either current or imminent extreme fire danger fueled by high temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds.
- Several metropolitan areas, including Albuquerque, Denver, El Paso, Amarillo, and Pierre, lie within the high-risk zones for wildfire activity.
- The heightened fire risk is driven by a storm system bringing strong winds and very dry air, combined with temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average, creating conditions favorable for rapid wildfire spread.
