A high wind warning was issued for the foothills and northern Colorado Thursday for wind gusts between 80 and 100 mph. Paired with high temperatures reaching 70, a red flag warning was also issued.

Fire danger is surging back into the weather picture for the rest of the week right on into the start of the weekend. Thursday is a First Alert Weather Day for the return of critical fire weather conditions across most of eastern Colorado including Denver and areas near the base of the Front Range foothills.

Winds are picking up across Colorado on Thursday, with some areas already seeing wind gusts over 70 mph. A Pinpoint Weather Alert Day was issued for Thursday for wind speeds and fire danger. There are several high wind warnings and red flag warnings issued across Colorado,

Fierce winds, above-average temps and incredibly dry conditions will lead to days of high fire danger across the Front Range mountains, foothills and plains. Cooler temps and snow return Sunday.

Mandatory evacuations were lifted near northwest Fort Collins after a fire broke out on Thursday around noon.

A structure fire in Loveland damaged a workshop behind a home, sending flames and large plumes of smoke into the air, visible from miles away. No injuries were reported, and now the cause of the fire is under investigation.