Travel and Fire Dangers in Southwest this Labor Day Weekend
High winds buffeting areas from the High Deserts of California through the Rockies will cause dangerous travel, blowing dust and a high fire threat through this long holiday weekend.
As a vigorous cold front plunges through the Great Basin and the Rockies, the strong winds will be stirred. Gusts from 40-60 mph will whip over this zone with even higher gusts at times over mountains and through passes, especially in central Utah.
Holiday travelers, especially those in campers, should be prepared for tricky travel, especially through mountainous areas of the Southwest, including stretches of I-15, I-40, I-70 and I-80.
The winds will also threaten to overturn semi-trucks.
Blowing dust may be whipped up in some areas, suddenly and dangerously reducing the visibility.
Bright sunshine and a low relative humidity along with the windy conditions will combine forces to create a high fire danger across areas from southeastern California to northern Arizona, Colorado and southern Idaho.
If you are celebrating the holiday by camping and grilling outdoors, exercise extreme caution with sparks and make sure that campfires are completely out when finished with them.
If setting off fireworks this holiday, first check to make sure that there are no bans in your area.
On Labor Day, the high winds will expand into the High Plains, causing travel hazards and a fire threat. The greatest fire threat will lie from Nebraska to Texas.
Related to the Story:
Weather For Your Labor Day Festivities
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 82° | Gila Bend, AZ |
| Low | -13° | Clayton Lake, ME |
| Precip | 1.24" | Spanish Fork, UT |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
This Day In Weather History
Gulf Coast 1 (899)
ry cold morning along Gulf Coast; New Orleans 6.8 deg.; Mobile -1 deg.; Pensacola 7 deg.; Tallahassee -2 deg (All time record for Florida. Brownsville 12 deg. (all time low).
North Dakota 1 (936)
this date the mercury plummeted to -60 deg. at Parshall, ND - the coldest temperature ever for the State of ND. Later the same year, the mercury soared to 121 deg. at Steele, ND - the hottest temperature ever for the state of ND.
Rough Weather
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