JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County is included in a large swath of Wyoming that will be under a Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, while critical wildfire conditions exist, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Low humidity combined with very dry fuels, hot temperatures, strong gusty winds and increasing thunderstorm activity could cause “erratic fire behavior,” NWS warned.
The NWS Riverton office forecasts western winds at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 3 mph, along with a 20 to 30 percent chance of thunderstorms “with frequent lightning being the main threats.” Higher elevations will experience relative humidity around 20% percent; lower valleys could see 13 to 17%.
The weather service defines relative humidity as “a measure of the actual amount of water vapor in the air compared to the total amount of vapor that can exist in the air at its current temperature. Warm air can possess more water vapor (moisture) than cold air, so with the same amount of absolute/specific humidity, air will have a higher relative humidity if the air is cooler, and a lower relative humidity if the air is warmer.”
Fire conditions have led to escalating restrictions on fire use in Teton County and public lands nearby, including both of the state’s national parks. Teton County, Idaho, is under a burn ban.
Friends of Bridger-Teton ambassadors observed unsafe campfire habits in Curtis Canyon this month. In these dry weather conditions, wildfires can spark easily and spread quickly. Those who choose to light outdoor fires are encouraged to extinguish fires using several gallons of water instead of a single water bottle. Remember to soak charred remains, stir the ashes and ensure remnants are cold to the touch before abandoning a campfire. Never leave a campfire unattended.
