Red Flag Fire Warning Issued For Wyoming Mountain Ranges

The Cheyenne office of the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Fire Warning for Saturday, June 9, for the Sierra Madre and Snowy Mountain Ranges in Wyoming.

A Red Flag Warning is the highest threat level for possible fires, based on weather conditions and other factors. The service has also issued a Fire Weather Watch for the Laramie Range.

The service is also warning about the possibility of strong thunderstorms over Converse and Niobrara counties.

The service issued the following statement early Saturday:

"Red Flag Warnings have been issued for the higher terrain of the Snowy and Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges from 11am to 8pm today.
Vegetation has become drier over the past few weeks in these areas and will combine with humidity values dropping below 10% and winds of 30 to 40 mph this afternoon to early evening.
A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for the Laramie Range as brief critical fire weather conditions could occur this afternoon as well.
Overall confidence is moderate to high on critical thresholds being met for the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges and low for the Laramie Range at this time.
A few strong storms will also be possible over Converse and Niobrara Counties this afternoon and early evening.
Main hazards will be dime to nickel sized hail and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph.
Storm activity will decrease after 8pm as it moves off to the northeast.