New wildfire in Colorado prompts mandatory evacuations

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 WKXA

ABC NewsBy MAX GOLEMBO, ABC News

(NEW YORK) — A new wildfire broke out northwest of Denver — called the East Troublesome wildfire — and it is 19,086 acres and 10% contained with mandatory evacuations in effect.

There is some bad news for Colorado and a huge part of the West on Thursday as more gusty winds are expected, making fire danger critical.

Red Flag Warnings have been issued for six states: California, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.

Gusty winds of up to 30 to 40 mph are expected for Colorado and the Rockies with the highest winds forecast in Northern California, where they can gust to near 50 mph.

A new winter storm is moving from the northern Rockies into the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, where a winter storm warning has been issued.

Some areas could see up to 8 inches of new October snow but it looks like the Twin Cities will miss the heaviest snow this time around.

Behind this second snowstorm, bitter cold air will be moving into the central U.S., with some areas dipping into the single digits and even below zero.

Some record lows are possible in the Rockies and northern Plains this weekend as well.

Wind chills are also expected to be widespread on Saturday morning.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Epsilon rapidly intensified Wednesday and became the fourth major hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season with winds of 115 mph.

Thankfully, there is no major landmass in the path of the hurricane this time, however.

Epsilon is expected to stay to the east of Bermuda Friday with just gusty winds and rain expected on the island as a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the island nation.