Outdoor burning strongly discouraged Friday due to high winds

SIDNEY - A red flag warning is in effect Friday for the Nebraska Panhandle, northeast Colorado and southeast Wyoming. 

The National Weather Service office in Cheyenne strongly discourages outdoor burning. They say any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 

Winds Friday will be sustained out of the south to southwest at 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph possible. Humidity will be at a minimum of 7 to 12 percent. 

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

A high wind warning is also in place for northeast Colorado on Friday. Strong winds and blowing dust will make traveling difficult in Logan, Sedgwick and Phillips Counties. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

The NWS says to fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds. If you must travel, be prepared for suddenly slowed or stopped traffic in areas of blowing dust, and slow down well before entering a plume of blowing dust and poor visibility.