Summer storms are building over the Rocky Mountains, bringing a good chance of rain to Summit County for the first time in 12 days.
But these storms might hurt more than they help on Colorado’s largest wildfires.
Meteorologists on the Willow Fire near Leadville expect minimal rain and unpredictable lightning.
“Gusty and erratic winds may adversely affect fire behavior, and new lightning-caused fires may start in the area,” the team warns on Willow Fire Facebook page. “Initial attack contingency groups will be poised to respond to new lightning starts in the area of the Willow Fire.”
Wind battles at 10k
Wind has been the biggest enemy and largest wild card on the Willow Fire, burning on 4,150 acres at nearly 10,000 feet about six miles west of downtown Leadville. It is 5% contained.
For several days now fire crews have been chasing and extinguishing “spot fires,” where large embers are carried up to three-quarters of a mile by gusty winds. The forest is so dry these embers can spark new fires when they touch down.
Some evacuees returned home yesterday. Others are still evacuated from homes near Turquoise Lake.
Flash flooding down south
Five other named fires have scorched a combined 204,000 acres and counting statewide.
The largest and most destructive, the Aspen Acres Fire south of Pueblo, grew less than 2,000 acres yesterday after several days of unchecked growth. More than 250 homes and four commercial businesses are destroyed, the Colorado Sun confirms.
Meteorologists on the Aspen Acres Fire today predict more rain than Leadville, but this comes with new problems.
“A line of showers and thunderstorms is moving in Tuesday, which could bring more significant precipitation accumulation than we’ve seen over the last week,” the team writes on the Aspen Acres Facebook page. “Outflow winds from storms could push wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour over the fire area. There is also the potential for flash flooding.”
The forest near Pueblo, like Leadville, remains historically dry. But the experts are cautiously optimistic, writing, “Tuesday’s cloud cover and expected precipitation should moderate fire activity.”
This could help fire crews gain even more ground on the Aspen Acres Fire. It is up to 15% contained this morning.
State line containment
Out west on the Colorado-Utah state line, the deadly Snyder Fire is almost fully contained today. It has consumed 30,200 acres since June 26.
On June 27 three firefighters were killed on a neighboring fire, when gusty winds overtook them. That fire soon combined with the larger Snyder Fire.
Today fire crews are leaving the Snyder Fire to fight other fires in the West, but slowly, and cautiously. Fire managers there are bracing for the same unpredictable storms.
“Dry lightning is possible today and Wednesday as more moisture moves into the area,” the daily report reads, saying a federal team will “support local resources with initial attack capability for any new fire starts, as requested.”
Preview image via Willow Fire official page on FB.